Maseru, Sept. 09 — At least 20 Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) recruits were hit by a car while on routine training in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
LCS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Assistant Superintendent Pheko Ntobane told the Agency that the recruits had just left their premises and that after joining Koffi Anan Road, a car hit the recruits from behind on their way to Ha Thetsane.
He said 20 of them were injured and had to be rushed to Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital, where one was admitted while the rest were treated for minor injuries as outpatients.
LCS PRO said later on the day another recruit had to be rushed to the hospital after having smashed his head against the same car.
“Even though only one is still in hospital, his condition is stable and could be released soon,” he commented.
Furthermore, he also said the recruits had sustained injuries on the legs and heads.
Assistant Superintendent Ntobane said the driver of the car was saved and rescued by angry recruits after the incident and that he is already in police custody.
He said his car was not badly damaged but confirmed that its driver (40) was under the influence of alcohol.
The LCS PRO said those affected by the accident will be given time to recover from the minor injuries they suffered while the rest will continue with their training.
He explained that the reason the recruits go for training early in the morning was to avoid traffic during the day, but stated that they will have to change their training schedule on weekends since it clashes with drunk drivers going home from bars.
The LCS Officer said LCS has already sought social workers to provide counselling to the recruits in order for them to recover fully and concentrate on their training.
There are a total of 197 recruits currently in training at the LCS premises.
The accident is the first of its kind to be reported at LCS and the families of the recruits have already been informed of the accident.
