Matsha driver faces nine counts of death

Nearly four years after the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of nine students at Matsha College, the driver who was transporting them in an overloaded truck was charged with nine counts of death by dangerous driving.

Dogi Thoomadi, 43, a driver on the Letlhakeng District Council, was brought to trial last week in a Molepolole court of first instance and faced nine death charges.

The details of the offense are that, on November 13, 2015, in Dutlwe, along the Morwamosu-Letlhakeng Road in Kweneng District, the accused imprudently drove a Hino truck registered B577 AOI, thus causing the deaths of Olebogeng Ngakaagae, Joyce Tsogwane, Sekhuto Mmualebe, Olek Mosleele, Molebeledi, Barati Phetolo, Neo Kealotswe, Lydia Gakelebone and Oreeditse Kebopelwang.

The fatal incident occurred when students returned home after their Formula 5 exam at Matsha College in Kang.

The truck was damaged by deep bumps in the front, bumps on the spars, missing windows, a windshield and a broken rear tire carrying more than 126 students with their luggage.

It is alleged that the truck was supposed to transport some of the students, but when they arrived at school, even those who were excluded from the truck forced themselves onto the truck and none of the officers in charge 39 school, including the driver, did not check the load. of the truck and the disposition of the students.

It is suspected that the truck was speeding and that a tire had burst before spilling over, killing five students on the spot, while the majority of them had been admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, four of whom also died.

The prosecutor, Farayi Mahwite, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pleaded with the court to reserve the plea, as they had not yet notified the accused of the statements of the witnesses.

"I have no objection to bail, he may be sentenced to appear all the time in court and I ask to be mentioned in two months to compile a summary of the case," said Mahwite.

Magistrate Rosemary Khuto considered Mahwite's motion and ruled that the prosecution should provide the accused with a summary of the case by March 21 and ordered that he appear for a mention 21st May 2019.