Trial in relation to a traffic incident that resulted in a death of a girl in 2011 has started on Wednesday at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
Rex Upwe’e who was a police officer at that time of the alleged incident stood trial for one count of reckless and dangerous driving and one count of endangering safety of passengers travelling in a vehicle.
He was accused of driving a car heading west bound at the wrong lane of the road and ended up colliding with a pickup truck coming towards Honiara.
It was alleged that as a result of the accident, a female siting at the back tray of the pickup truck was thrown out of the truck due to the impact of the hit and died.
In his opening address yesterday, Public Prosecutor Willie Vaiyu said on the morning of 2 March 2011 between 10 am and 12pm a vehicle (one and a half tonne pickup truck) was traveling from Tamboko, West Guadalcanal towards town.
He said at Tamboko the truck was loaded with few bags of copra for sale in Honiara and on its way to picked up more passengers with their market produce.
Mr Vaiyu said as the vehicle was approaching Mamara at a sharp bend when a white Toyota Corolla taxi suddenly appeared on the sharp bend travelling westward taking the left lane for vehicles travelling westward.
He said there was no time for the pickup truck to avoid the oncoming Corolla taxi as it was already too close.
“Both vehicles collided and the pickup truck swung into the middle of the road on to the other lane and into the bush side of the road.
“By that time the vehicle (pickup truck) stopped by the bush side of the road some of its passengers who were sitting at the back of the truck had fell of the vehicle because of the sudden sway.”
Mr Vaiyu said one female passenger who fell off from the pickup truck met her death as a result and another passenger got injuries and was admitted at the National Referral Hospital.
Prosecution after opening its case called its witnesses in the hearing before Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea.
Henry Kausimae is representing Upwe’e.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
