A 14-year-old Grade 8 pupil from Makhaola High School suffered severe injuries after being struck by a speeding car on Wednesday afternoon.

The accident, which occurred as the student was leaving school, resulted in both of her legs being broken. She was immediately rushed to Machabeng government hospital which transferred her to Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital for urgent care.

According to Sergeant Teboho Pali of the Qacha’s Nek Traffic Police, the incident involved a 31-year-old woman driving a Golf.

Sergeant Pali urged motorists to adhere to speed limits, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic, and advised students to remain on the sidewalks rather than walking on the road.

He told the Agency that the police have opened a case of reckless driving, and investigations are currently underway.

Under the Road Traffic Act of 1981, those found guilty of reckless driving face penalties of up to M2000 and two years in prison, while negligent drivers may be fined M1000 and sentenced to one year in prison.

The Deputy Principal of Makhaola High School, Mrs. Likeleli Tjamela, expressed deep concern about the growing number of accidents near the school. She revealed that this was the second accident involving students this year alone. She said they urgently need speed humps to protect children. 

Tjamela also noted that the injured pupil’s recovery could be long, indicating that she may not return to school this year due to the severity of her injuries.

In response to the rise in road accidents, the Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) held a prayer session in April this year at the Makhaola road, highlighting the need for divine intervention amid increasing cases of fatal accidents attributed to speeding and alcohol abuse.

Statistics from the Road Safety Department and the police reveal a troubling trend. In 2007, Lesotho recorded 4,274 road accidents. That number surged to 5,538 in 2013 before slightly decreasing to 5,236 in 2015. December, April, and March consistently report the highest number of fatalities.

Qacha’s Nek recorded the highest percentage of road deaths in 2015 at 23.2 percent, followed by Mokhotlong at 15.2 percent, with Mohale’s Hoek having the lowest at 5.6 percent. Between 2016 and 2019, an average of 4,000 accidents occurred annually, though the number dropped to 2,563 in 2020, likely due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

The disturbing frequency of road accidents has raised alarms, with calls for immediate action to prevent further tragedies.