A car accident at a neglected blackspot on the Masaka-Mbarara route in central Uganda’s Lwengo District left at least nine fatalities, including two children.
An Alphard vehicle from Kampala travelling toward Mbarara City and an approaching fuel truck on an ascending road from the Mbarara side were involved in a head-on collision at Kyoko Village around 4 o’clock.
Traffic police Friday night blamed irresponsible driving for the collision that injured two additional persons, citing eyewitness testimony.
“The accident involved motor vehicle registration number UBL 314C an Alphard, that was traveling from Kampala side heading to Mbarara and motor vehicle registration number SSD 327S/SSD 137Q that was from Mbarara/Kinoni town. The two motor vehicles had a head on collision. Preliminary findings indicate that the Alphard driver was at high speed and was keeping right [instead of left]. The Alphard driver crashed head-on with the fuel tanker, killing nine people on spot,” said traffic police spokesperson, ASP Faridah Nampiima.
She claimed that all of the deceased were passengers aboard the tragic Alphard.
“The deceased include, seven adults and two juveniles. The driver of the fuel tanker and his turn man sustained injuries and were rushed for treatment to Masaka regional referral hospital. More inquiries into the incident are underway and more details will be availed in due course. We want to take this opportunity to warn all motorists traveling upcountry for Easter celebrations to drive carefully, avoid speeding, phone driving, drink-driving and all other road indiscipline that result into accidents,” ASP Nampiima added in a statement.
According to reports, the area of the Friday crash is a well-known dead zone where roughly 10 individuals died in a similar way in late December 2022.
It is believed that the area of the fatal crash is a renowned dead zone where roughly 10 individuals died in a similar way in late December 2022.
According to the Annual Crime Report 2022, which was published a month ago, there were 20,394 road accidents reported in the nation in 2022 as opposed to 17,443 in 2021.
According to the authorities, there were 22 fatalities for every 100 incidents, and reckless driving was to blame for 61% of all accidents.