At least fifteen (15) people died and several others sustained serious injuries in two separate fatal road crashes registered along the Iganga-Jinja highway within less than 24 hours on a dark Saturday.
The first crash which claimed 9 people happened at Musita village, Mayuge district at around midnight on Friday night. Four people died on the spot, while five others died in the hospital where they had been rushed for treatment.
The accident which also left six other six others seriously hurt and hospitalized came after the driver of the passenger taxi (UBE 939H) in which the victims were travelling lost control and rammed into a stationary trailer truck (RAC603Q/ RL1055) along the highway.
Hours later, the same highway registered another fatal crash which claimed the lives of six people, including a baby. This occurred at Namasoga Village along the Iganga-Jinja road and involved three vehicles; a Toyota Hiace (taxi) of Reg No UAV 659L, Isuzu Elfu (Tipa) UBH 032W and Toyota Sienta UBJ 679Y.
According to Busoga East Police spokesperson SSP Diana Nandawula, the six people who died while being transported to hospital for treatment, included two children, two females and two male adults.
Explaining the possible cause of the accident, Ms Nandawula said the Tipa which was loaded with sand and heading to Jinja suffered a flat tire, veered off its lane and collided head-on with the taxi which was coming from Jinja. The Sienta then rammed into the Tipa from the rear.
She says the three vehicles collided leading to deaths and injuries. She urged the drivers to be extremely careful while using the roads and avoid speeding citing that it has been the major cause of accidents.
“We continue to urge drivers to be careful and avoid speeding because they are some of the causes of road crashes on addition to reckless driving and failure to follow road instructions,” Ms. Nandawula added.
Meanwhile, the vehicles which were involved in the accident were towed and parked at Iganga central police station while the bodies of the deceased persons were taken to Iganga general hospital mortuary for autopsy as investigations continue.
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