Adam Hartman
2 May 2008
Windhoek — THIRTEEN tourists from three countries were involved in three separate car accidents along the coastal routes the past week.
Two of them were killed, including a five-year-old girl. On Monday, emergency services rushed to two separate scenes - both involving 4x4 vehicles that had overturned on gravel roads.
The one was on the Henties Bay - Usakos road. The four occupants were all Slovakian, and sustained less serious injuries. International SOS assisted them.
The other accident involved a French family of five - parents with three children - who were on their way to the coast from Johannesburg.
The accident took place on the C14 road between Solitaire and Walvis Bay.
The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to roll.
According to Gabriela Teleman of St Gabriel's Community Ambulance Service in Walvis Bay, all but one of the occupants were buckled up.
The five-year-old girl, who allegedly was not wearing her seat belt, was flung out of the vehicle and killed instantly.
The rest of the occupants' injuries were less serious.
"It was a very emotionally intense situation. The little girl's name was Gabriela. My ambulance is called Gabriel, and I introduced myself as Gabriella," Teleman said. "The response was very emotional."
On Tuesday, both International SOS and St Gabriel's were summoned to an accident on the Uis - Henties Bay road. A 4x4 vehicle with four Greek occupants had overturned. The occupants consisted of two married couples. One of the women died on the scene.
Another occupant was in critical condition and was eventually flown to a South African clinic for treatment.
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