In a tragic incident, a 13-year-old girl, identified as Pashula Hangula, d!ed in an accident in the dunes near Walvis Bay on Saturday.
The freak accident happened when a 21-year-old driver attempted to navigate the dunes in a pickup truck, resulting in a fatal rollover.
Erongo police spokesperson inspector Ileni Shapumba explained that the driver was following another vehicle in the sandy terrain when his vehicle got stuck in the sand. In an attempt to dislodge it, the vehicle slid on loose sand, overturning and rolling down the dune. Unfortunately, Hangula was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
“In his attempt to dislodge the vehicle, it skidded on the loose sand, overturned, and rolled down the dune,” he explained.
The vehicle carried a total of five occupants, including the driver, and three of them sustained injuries. Emergency services promptly transported the injured individuals to Walvis Bay State Hospital, though the extent of their injuries remains uncertain at this time.
Inspector Shapumba conveyed that the police have notified the next of kin of the deceased and are actively investigating the incident as a culpable homicide case. He urged the public to exercise heightened awareness and caution when navigating the unpredictable dunes surrounding Walvis Bay.
“The police have informed the next of kin of the deceased and are actively investigating the incident as a culpable homicide case,” Shapumba added.
A video showing the pick up truck rolling down dune 7 outside Walvis Bay circulated online on Saturday. You can watch the unfortunate incident below:
A fatal accident took place at Dune 7 outside Walvis Bay this afternoon. Four occupants were rescued, but sadly a young girl succumbed to her injuries. pic.twitter.com/5cVZOWQFM9
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) December 30, 2023
