Budaka, (UG):- The Territorial Police in Budaka district are on an active manhunt for the driver of a silver Toyota Hiace with registration number UBK 575X, following a tragic hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a pedal cyclist.
The accident occurred at Lupada trading center along the busy Mbale-Tirinyi Highway in Budaka district, at approximately 5:50 pm on Friday evening.
Police identified the victim as 16-year-old Byakika Andrew, a resident of Lupada village in Naboa town council, Budaka district, tragically lost his life in the collision.
Eyewitnesses reported that Byakika was riding alone on his bicycle, heading towards Mbale, when the speeding Toyota Hiace struck him from behind near Lupada trading center. The impact of the collision was fatal, resulting in immediate death.
The driver of the Toyota Hiace did not stop at the scene of the accident. Instead, the vehicle was abandoned at Lupada Primary School before the driver fled on foot.
The Budaka police were swiftly alerted and immediately launched an investigation into the hit-and-run incident.
Upon their arrival at the accident site, the police secured the scene and conveyed the lifeless body of Byakika Andrew to Budaka Health Center 4 for postmortem examination.
Police said the Toyota Hiace involved in the accident was also transported to the Budaka Police Station for further investigation after thorough documentation of the accident scene.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the accident was a combination of over speeding and reckless driving. The authorities are appealing to anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the driver or any other details that could assist in the investigation to come forward and provide necessary assistance.
“We are committed to bringing the driver responsible for this tragic hit-and-run incident to justice,” stated SP Semewo Samuel, the spokesperson for the Bukedi North Region Police.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family of Byakika Andrew during this difficult time. We urge the public to cooperate with the police and provide any relevant information that could help us in apprehending the driver,” he added.
The Budaka Police have intensified efforts to locate and apprehend the driver of the Toyota Hiace. They are working closely with neighboring police stations and local communities to gather any available information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
As the investigation continues, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of responsible driving and adhering to traffic regulations.
The authorities are calling for increased vigilance on the road to prevent such tragic accidents and ensure the safety of all road users.
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