Tragedy struck our roads again as Veerr Luckeenarain, a 43-year-old resident of Pont-Bondieu, Belvédère, lost his life in a devastating accident early yesterday morning. The van he was driving collided with a National Transport Corporation (NTC) bus along L’Unité road in Camp-de-Masque around 7 a.m.
Reports indicate that the impact was so severe that the front of the van was crushed into the engine of the NTC bus, which was en route to Curepipe via Barlow. Both vehicles were traveling in opposite directions when the accident occurred, with the van veering off its initial path before colliding with the bus near a cane field.
Emergency services, including firefighters, local police, and the Emergency Medical Assistance Service, swiftly arrived at the scene. Unfortunately, the driver of the van succumbed to his serious injuries. Meanwhile, 32 passengers aboard the bus, including a dozen students, sustained injuries and were transported to Sir Anerood Jugnauth Hospital in Flacq for treatment. Notably, 2025 had begun without any fatalities on our roads; however, this tragic incident has raised the death toll from fatal accidents in Mauritius to eight, according to figures from the police communication cell.
In a related note, there were also incidents reported in front of the Mahogany Shopping Mall and on an Air Mauritius flight, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced in ensuring safety both on the ground and in the air.