RELATIVES of a male youth who died in a hit and run in Manus on the weekend went on rampage, causing thousands of kina worth of damage to the suspect’s family.
Manus Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Inspector David Yapu said the deceased identified as 18 year old Alfred Thomas was a Grade 10 student at Manus Secondary School.
Mr Yapu said the deceased was sleeping on the road at Ward 7, when the vehicle driven at high speed without its lights on, hit him on the head and dragging him to the side of the road.
The incident occurred between 11pm and 1 am on Friday April 17 along Ward 7 in Lorengau town. The victim was rushed to Lorengau General Hospital but died upon arrival. His body is in the morgue for autopsy.
“The driver of the vehicle who feared for his life, surrendered himself immediately to the Police for his safety. He was drunk at that time of the accident,” Mr Yapu said.
Shortly after the accident occurred and when news reached the victim’s relatives that he had passed away at the hospital, youths with relatives mobilized and caused rampage to the suspect’s father’s house at ward 7. They caused extensive damages and looted valuable items valued more than K60, 000.
The PPC said police promptly attended to the incident and managed to defuse the situation and disperse the crowds.
A road block that was set up in retaliation was also removed after police convinced the group that the matter was now in the hands of police.
The driver of the vehicle has been formally arrested and charged for dangerous driving causing death and will appear in court this week.
In another related traffic accident on Loniu / Momote road, a PNG Defence Force officer was arrested and charged with three counts of traffic offences: Negligent driving, Driving under influence of liquor and driving unregistered motor vehicle.
He was released on Police bail and will also appear in court this week.
“I am warning drivers not to consume alcohol and drive as they can easily cause accident resulting in injuries or death of persons,” PPC Yapu said.
