Thursday 9 October 2014

Namibian deputy minister of Mines and Energy died in road accident

The deputy minister of Mines and Energy, Willem Isaacks, died on Wednesday evening in the Keetmanshoop hospital after a car accident. He was 45 years old.
His government-issued Toyota double-cab bakkie which he was driving veered off the road and overturned 40km north of Keetmanshoop earlier in the day.

Although his condition was earlier described as stable by medical personnel, Isaacks subsequently had two heart attacks and went into a coma. He died around 19h45 and family confirmed the death.

It is believed that Isaacks fall asleep while behind the wheels.

The deputy minister was alone at the time of the accident.

This was the third car accident involving the deputy minister after a previous one, which occurred in September 2011 when the car he was driving crashed on the gravel road to Koës, killing a seven-year-old boy, Alwara Esterhuisen. In that accident, the deputy minister broke an ankle and had minor hand and head injuries.

At that time, the former //Karas regional commander Josephat Abel urged politicians, who have official drivers, to refrain from driving themselves.

In April last year, the deputy minister also overturned his government Toyota double-cab bakkie after he lost control when he allegedly swerved to avoid a pool of rain water in the road.

Police suspected that the deputy minister was speeding when the accident had happened on the gravel road between Tses and Berseba. The deputy minister, who was alone in the vehicle, only then sustained minor injuries to his head and shoulder.

Cases of negligent driving were opened for both accidents.

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