- The Papua New Guinean woman, 18, was a passenger in a truck when it crashed
- The driver, an Afghan refugee without a license, has been arrested an charged
- Another refugee in the car has been charged with consuming alcohol in the car
- The refugees are in custody to protect them from retaliatory attacks from family
A teenage woman has died in a suspected drink-driving tragedy on Manus Island.
The Papua New Guinean woman, 18, was a passenger in a truck containing five people when it overturned on a main road on Wednesday.
The driver, an Afghan refugee without a license, has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death. He fractured his shoulder in the crash.
Another refugee in the car has been charged with consuming alcohol in a vehicle and is in custody.
A teenage woman has died in a suspected drink-driving tragedy on Manus Island. Pictured: Detention centres on the island
The Papua New Guinean woman, 18, was a passenger in a truck containing five people when it overturned on a main road on Wednesday. Pictured: Refugees on Manus Island
Manus province police commander David Yapu said: ‘They were on a drinking spree during the night up until the next day when they were involved in an accident.’
He said that the refugees had to stay in custody to protect them from retaliatory attacks from the teenage girl’s mother and family.
‘This is our fear, that is the reason we have taken them into custody, both the driver and the other refugee,’ he said.
‘We are being kept on alert in the event the relatives attack those refugees or even the other refugees.
‘That is something that we are monitoring.’
Manus Island housed detention centres for refugees relocated from Australia until 2017.
Manus Island housed detention centres for refugees relocated from Australia until 2017. Pictured: Refugees on Manus Island
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