KEETMANSHOOP: Three people were admitted to the hospital here with numerous injuries after they were involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Lemoen Draai residential area Thursday evening.

The 63-year-old Sofia Jahs, her granddaughter Armandu Jahs, nine, and the 10-year-old Viorte Kooper were walking near a house in Lemoen Draai at around 18h00 when they were hit by a Toyota Cressida.

The driver of the sedan, who residents claimed is a member of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) posted to Keetmanshoop, immediately abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene of the accident.

Eyewitnesses on the scene Thursday evening said the victims had been walking in the area when the vehicle sped towards them, hit all three of them and came to a stop inside the yard of a nearby house.

“He tried to drive away but someone stopped him and confiscated the car keys, so he ran away,” a woman told Nampa at the scene.

Onlookers also suspected that the driver might have been under the influence of alcohol as he had been driving from a nearby bar when the accident occurred.

Inspector Ruben Ikela of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) reported here Friday that the suspect is still on the run, but said the police are searching for him.

A case of reckless driving and fleeing the scene of an accident without stopping and rendering aid was opened against the driver.

Ikela was quick to point out that even if eyewitnesses allege that the suspect is a certain soldier, the police are not yet in possession of any information which might link him to the incident.

The police inspector was unable to say exactly which injuries were sustained by the victims, but said they were all “in good condition”.