www.lifhaus.com.sb

The unmistakeable sound of wailing was clearly heard from a long way off.  In the Solomon Islands it could only mean trouble and in most cases death.  Indeed it was death, but one of a different kind.  Perhaps the death of a dream, the death of years of hardwork and the knowledge of more hardships to come.

Lifhaus roving reporters found a bus ditched in a drain on the Mbokona road.  Whilst it had sustained minimal damage, the front glass panel had been smashed in what eye witnesses had claimed was a deliberate attempt by the bus driver and conductor to escape.  Speaking to Lifhaus, an eye witness exclaimed, "why didn't they just come out of the other windows or the drivers door which could have been opened easily?"

According to other eye witnesses two young people in the bus escaped unscathed by the accident.  But witnesses also claimed that the two youths were drunk at the time of the accident.  "They climbed up the hill and escaped.  We have been here looking for them but they are no where in sight." said a relative who had come to help remove the bus from the ditch.

The owner did not want to speak with Lifhaus but they were there to survey the damage and then figure out ways to remove the vehicle from the ditch.  A relative who did not wish to be named said, "This bus was just recently purchased and I am sure the owner is very angry about this."

Lifhaus witnessed the lady owner wailing and screaming as she struggled to come to terms with her loss.  After collecting herself, she was able to direct the boys who had come with her to retrieve items from the bus and then begin the difficult task of taking the bus out of the ditch without damaging it further.

Another road fatality.  Another statistic attributed to drink driving.