East Timor: two UN peacekeepers die in road accident
2 October -- Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed on Sunday in East Timor in a traffic accident outside of the capital, Dili, according to the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).
The two soldiers -- Technical Sgt. Antonio Bagano and Sgt. Emmanuel Villanueva, both from the Phillipines -- were part of a convoy delivering military equipment to the battalion's headquarters in Manatuto.
"A preliminary investigation revealed that as the convoy of trucks was moving downhill, the last vehicle developed a mechanical failure and lost its brake, prompting the driver to stop it by hitting a flat hillside which caused the vehicle to overturn," UNTAET said.
The two soldiers were seated in the front seat. The driver and four other soldiers seated in the back of the truck sustained minor injuries and were taken to the UN Military Hospital in Dili for treatment, according to the UN Mission.
A funeral service will be held tomorrow at Dili Airport before the remains are flown to the Philippines via Darwin.
