IGANGA, UGANDA: A police fire engine attached Busoga East region on Wednesday crashed into a stationary trailer as it headed to extinguish fire which broke out in Kasokoso , Iganga central division, Iganga municipality in Iganga district.
The police fire truck registration number UP 4738 crashed with a trailer registration number KBJ 069A/ ZD 1671 along Kyeyune Road in Iganga Municipality leaving the driver (unidentified by press time) injured only to be evacuated from the truck by first responders and rushed to hospital for medical attention.
DailyExpress learnt from eye witnesses that the driver struggled and drove to the fire scene despite the damaged vehicle but the extinguishing system couldn’t respond anymore.
Iganga traffic police rushed to the scene to ascertain the incident and also gathered information about the crash while the fire brigade were left with nothing to do after their equipment was not functional after the crash. This prompted the locals to intervene by using tap water and sand to put out fire.
An eyewitness who preferred anonymity said the vehicle found a congested route as it accessed Kyeyune road in a corner next to where the trailer was parked. She says that there was another vehicle which was parked next to the trailer and some people were gathered near the corner along the road waiting for the truck.
“The vehicle found a congested road as it accessed Kyeyune road where the trailer was parked. There was another vehicle which was parked next to the trailer and some people were gathered along the road waiting for the vehicle and the driver was trying to avoid crashing into them and eventually lost control and crashed the trailer back before proceeding to the fire scene,” say a female anonymous eyewitness.
However, Daily Express has learnt that the fire engine was being driven by another person instead of the usual one. The known driver who will soon be retiring from the force was reportedly unavailable on standby when the fire incident was reported.
Meanwhile, police confirmed the incident citing that one police officer was injured in the crash.
“One of our police officers was injured in an accident when our fire engine UP 4738 was rushing to put out fire in Kasokoso and crashed with a trailer which was parked on the road side. This was along Kyeyune road near St. Peter’s church of Uganda,” says SP Diana Nandawula, Busoga East Police spokesperson before saying that other officers on the brigade were not hurt.
Nandawula says the truck was trying to save the people who had gathered along the road waiting for it’s service. She urged the general public to refrain from gathering along the routes being taken by the rescue teams but instead pave good ways for the teams.
“We call upon people that in case of a fire out break, they should always avoid congesting the routes leading the rescue team to the scene,” Nandawula added.
The Wednesday afternoon fired gutted the house of village secretary for women (Nabakyala) Namugema Aidha along Kyeyune road in Iganga municipality near St. Peter’s church of Uganda and property worth millions was burnt to ashes. They included domestic items among others.
The fire truck was towed to Busoga East regional police headquarters as investigations into the matter continue.
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- The fire engine which crashed into a stationary trailer,
- The Trailer which was parked along Kyeyune road,
- Locals volunteering to put out fire which gutted the house in Kasokoso,
