Three people have been confirmed dead and six others injured in a fatal road accident that occurred on Thursday afternoon along the Ntungamo-Mbarara Road.
The crash, which happened at around 3:30pm in Rucece, involved three vehicles: a Fuso Fighter truck (registration number UBF 727S), a Toyota Wish (UBL 839Q), and a motorcycle (UFF 926Q).
According to preliminary investigations by traffic police, the Fuso Fighter and the motorcycle were both heading towards Mbarara from Ntungamo.
It is reported that the Fuso truck attempted to overtake the motorcycle but ended up knocking it in the process, and overturning before colliding with a Toyota Wish.
"The driver of the Fuso subsequently lost control of the vehicle, which overturned and veered into the opposite lane, where it collided with the oncoming Toyota Wish," said Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura.
Kananura confirmed that the accident resulted in the death of three people, all of whom were traveling in the Fuso truck.
He also noted that six others sustained injuries, including the Fuso driver, three occupants of the Toyota Wish, and both the rider and a passenger of the motorcycle.
Kananura further stated that the emergency responders rushed the injured to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the same hospital’s mortuary for postmortem.
Police have since launched further investigations into the cause of the crash, while reminding drivers to observe road safety and avoid reckless overtaking.