A car accident on Compact Road in Oikull, Airai, Wednesday afternoon, June 5, 2024, resulted in the death of a 36-year-old man and injured his wife and two children.
Isak Elbelau Jr. was traveling from Airai to Ngchesar with his wife and their two children, ages 2 and 5. According to a family member, their vehicle collided with a parked truck while attempting to avoid another truck with a long bed carrying power poles that was also parked on the roadside.
The trucks were said to be from a private company hired to install the new power poles on the east side of Babeldaob, and were not Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) trucks.
The family member alleges there were no signs or flaggers warning of the construction work. Pictures shared on social media by other motorists showed no signs or warning cones near the scene of the accident.
However, Palau Bureau of Public Safety Public Information Officer Chief Ngiramengior disputed this claim, stating that road signs, flaggers, and personnel were present at the site.
Following the accident, the injured family members were transported to the hospital. Elbelau Jr. was pronounced dead at approximately 2:25 pm. Authorities say his wife and children were admitted for overnight observation.
Family members report that the 2-year-old child sustained a head injury and is also being monitored for internal injuries. The mother suffered a broken left hand and has difficulty walking. Both mother and child are reportedly recommended for further medical service outside of Palau.
Elbelau Jr., a young Palauan man, returned with his family to Palau in 2021 and started his own business in 2023. He is survived by his wife and four children.