Eight people - two females, six males - which include a brother and sister, are confirmed dead, with several children critically injured, following a nasty car accident along the Highlands Highway at Pabarabuk in the Nebilyer District in the Western Highlands Province. The Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent John Sagom says they were killed when two PMV buses - a 15-seater, and a 25-seater - collided around 2pm on Friday, November 8th. Eyewitnesses told police that the 15-seater bus loaded with passengers traveling to Kagua in the Southern Highlands province from Mt Hagen decided to take the lane which the 25-seater bus was traveling at the high speed to Mt Hagen from Walume. Both PMVs are owned by Southern Highlanders. According to PPC Sagom, the 15-seater bus, which was on the wrong lane, was in the process of returning to its lane, but it was too late, as the 25-seater bus, which was travelling at high speed, crashed with impact, resulting in the deaths, leaving several others, including children critically injured. PPC Sagom confirmed that a brother and a sister from Kagua in the Southern Highlands province were among the eight passengers killed in this unfortunate accident. He said they (deceased) were believed to be with the passengers travelling on the 15-seater bus to Kagua. Police, assisted by nearby villagers, retrieved the dead bodies, and those critically injured. PPC Sagom said police officers used a welding machine to cut-opened the busses and retrieve some trapped passengers. He said one of the bodies was retrieved late at around 7pm in that night, before police were able to transport the bodies, and injured passengers to the Mt. Hagen General Hospital. The children, aged between five and eight, who were critically injured, were admitted at the Mt Hagen General Hospital Emergency Unit. “I warn every vehicle travelling on the road to be cautious about passengers who are getting on board," PPC Sagom said in an official statement, when conveying his condolences to the families and relatives of those killed. "They (drivers) must be careful about the way they are driving because accidents are happening one after the other," he said. "I also urge all the drivers to be mindful of the passengers they are carrying in those motor vehicles." PPC Sagom stated that Mt. Hagen-based police highway patrols are investigating to identify the owners of both vehicles involved, as well as to gather information on the deceased and the victims, to determine the cause of the accident.