16 Feb 2004

Truck crash in PNG kills 21

12:14 pm on 16 February 2004

It's now known that twenty one people were killed and five injured when a truck crashed while climbing a steep road just outside the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby.

Local media reports say that the truck's gearbox and brakes failed as it climbed the road leading to the mountain township of Sogeri, near the start of the Kokoda Trail.

Most of those on board the public motor vehicle were from Pori and Lake Kopiago in the Southern Highlands province.

Bus and truck accidents are common in Papua New Guinea where both vehicle and road maintenance are poor.