VITEZ ACCIDENT APPARENTLY CAUSED BY STEERING MECHANISM FAILURE

VITEZ, March 27 (Hina) - A member of the New Zealand UN Battalion was found responsible for the death yesterday of two children in the central Bosnian town of Vitez, according to the latest investigation results released today. UN peacekeeper James Henderson was driving an armoured vehicle when suddenly he turned and went through the metal fence of the Maros family yard, running over Mateja Maros, aged 2, Dario Maros, aged 9, and Dajana Maros, aged 4, Vitez military court investigating judge Ivan Zabic said. Mateja and Dario were killed instantly while Dajana was taken to a Nova Bila hospital and her life was out of danger. Five New Zealand troops were inside the vehicle at the moment of the accident. They said that they had seen the children in the distance. According to driver Henderson's statement, the tragedy was caused by a failure in the steering mechanism. Henderson was in local police custody where he could be kept for three days at most. The UN Protection Force command demanded Handerson be turned over so he could be tried in New Zealand. According to an agreement with the Bosnian government, a member of the UN Protection Force who violates the law is to be turned over to his country. The joint investigation of local and UNPROFOR officials, was continuing. (Hina) bk 271511 MET mar 95