A good deed backfired horrifically for a Maun man as he lived every father’s worst nightmare – relegated to a helpless onlooker as his child died in front of him.
It is believed the 37-year-old was driving home after helping a relative with a leaking tap when his son, six, fell out of the moving van.
The young boy’s had was reportedly crushed by one of the wheels.
“The incident happened this past Saturday around 17:30 hrs in Bombadi ward in Maun,” Police District 5’s Officer Commanding, Peter Gochela told Okavango Voice this week.
According to sources close to the family, the boy adored his father and had begged to be allowed to accompany him on his trip.
“From what we were told, the boy opened the door while the car was moving. He fell out and the car drove over his head. He was rushed to hospital where he was certified dead upon arrival,” continued Gochela.
The man, originally from Mochudi, is said to be completely devastated. He has since been charged with violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations as he did not have a movement permit.
Meanwhile, Gochela urged parents to be vigilant while driving with minor children and to ensure that their seat-belts are properly secured before starting a journey.
“Children have to be always secured to the car seats, if they are about car seat age, the seat-belts have to be adjusted to fit them safely,” stressed the top cop.
This is not the first such incident to happen in Maun.
Last year January, a three-year-old girl died when she was flung from her parent’s moving vehicle when the car door accidentally flew open at a junction. She hit a tree trunk and crushed her skull.
