Police blame nasty accident involving YY bus on reckless driving by taxi; 10 confirmed dead

Police have put  blamed the accident involving a YY bus along the Mbale- Tirinyi road on reckless driving by a taxi driver.

A nasty accident on Sunday evening saw a YY bus registration number UAX 852Y involved in a head-on collision with a taxi registration number UAV 689E killing a number of passengers instantly at Bukonte Village located five kilometers from Namutumba and 25 kilometers from Iganga.

According to police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the nasty was caused by the taxi driver who “dangerously” overtook another commuter taxi as both headed to Namutumba from Iganga.

“The taxi crashed into the bus in the opposite lane, killing nine passengers instantly, and injured four others critically. The accident also claimed the life of a cyclist, who succumbed to the injuries at a nearby clinic, and further injured two other victims on a bodaboda motorcycle under registration number UDS 126N,” Enanga said.

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He noted that the 10 bodies of the deceased persons were taken to Iganga referral hospital for post mortem examination as well as the six injured victims for better treatment.

“All the passengers in the bus had no injuries and efforts are already in place to track down the driver who is on the run, to help in our investigations. Our sympathies go out to both the victims and their families in both incidents.”

The police spokesperson condemned motorists who put the lives of others in danger due to recklessness because most of the crash and collision traffic incident on Ugandan roads occur due to bad decisions by drivers.

“Further sensitization and awareness programs by the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, are ongoing countrywide, for transport owners and their drivers, for them to know that truck and bus driving, requires enough rest and vehicles in good mechanical condition, for the safety of drivers,”Enanga said.

“The awareness campaign and operations, is also targeting drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction, use of seatbelts and driving permits to help prevent such occurrences.”