The head accident between the police van and the prison bus kills 14 in Namibia

A frontal collision by Namibia involving vehicles belonging to the security services killed 14 people, including 11 members of the penitentiary service, a police officer and two civilians.

The accident took place at 270 km (167 miles) south of the capital, Windhoek, outside the city of Marintal on Saturday.

“No word can really capture the depth of this loss,” wrote President Netumbo Nandi-Nndaitwah on social networks, praising “the souls of our fallen officers”.

Namibia has one of the highest road death rates in the world.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Lucia IIPUMBU, also gave her condolences and thanked those who attended the places of the accident and the medical teams of the Marintal State Hospital.

She asked that the photos of the scene are not shared.

“The ministry is also strongly called on public members to refrain from circulating painful and sensitive images and videos from the accident scene, out of respect for the deceased, the wounded and their families,” said the Namibian newspaper.

She explained that 19 people in total were traveling in both vehicles.

The police van transported six passengers – five officers and a civilian – and the Namibian correctional service had 13 people on board.

President Nandi-Nndaitwah said three other police officers were seriously injured.

“We wish them strength and a complete recovery,” she said.

Namibia’s engine vehicle accident fund has urged families affected to get in touch.

The government’s vehicle insurance scheme, funded by a fuel tax, helps victims of road injuries access health care, rehabilitation and social support.

Its CEO, Rosalia Martins-Hausiku, said that the fund would help burials and medical care, reported Eagle FM, Eagle FM radio station.

Road accidents are a serious public health problem in Namibia, even if its population is relatively low – estimated at three million.

A comparison of the 2021 statistics shows that Namibia had 22 road deaths per 100,000 against 100,000 per 100,000 in the United Kingdom that year.