Arua-Nebbi road crash claims 7 lives

Dec 14, 2009

SEVEN people died on the spot and at least 15 others were admitted with serious injuries after a lorry carrying over 40 people crashed on the Arua-Nebbi road on Sunday.

By Frank Mugabi

SEVEN people died on the spot and at least 15 others were admitted with serious injuries after a lorry carrying over 40 people crashed on the Arua-Nebbi road on Sunday.

The West Nile regional Police commander, Patrick Otika-Akubu, said the 7:30pm incident occurred at Paciakoya village in Logiri sub-county as the driver lost control in a sharp corner.

“He seemed to have been speeding. There is a tree that is abnormally within the road. From our analysis, the driver saw the tree too late,” Otika said.

Donasiano Opwonya, the regional traffic officer, said most of the lorry occupants were from the same area and were returning from Kampala market at the Congolese border.

Among the dead were a pastor, one Titus Obiza and his 12-year-old daughter, Manuela Andru, who had been preaching at the market.

Residents said the father and daughter always preached there on market day.
Others who died were Paul Adriko, a man only identified as John and the turn-boy said to be hailing from Kabale.
The driver, Charles Gayabo, was apprehended by a mob on Monday morning while trying to escape from the region.

Earlier on Sunday, two people had died when a family driving to Arua in two vehicles got involved in an accident at Nyaravur trading centre on the Nebbi-Pakwach road.

According to Otika, a businessman identified as Dickson Obetia was driving a Toyota Harrier with six of his family members as his wife followed in a Rav4.

“Obetia’s car overturned several times, injuring all the occupants. When the wife saw this she collapsed. A volunteer was called from among the rescuers to drive the injured to Angal hospital,” Otika explained.

“Unfortunately, the rescue car also crashed before reaching the hospital, killing Obetia’s 62-year-old mother, Mary Besisa, on the spot.”

Their son, Derrick Lematia, 12, died on admission at Angal hospital.
In another incidence, an identified woman died on the spot when a bus heading for Arua collided with a stationery trailer at Masindi port on the Gulu-Kampala highway.

The woman was among the passengers of the trailer who had been stranded when their lorry broke down at night.

Meanwhile, there were reports of another accident in Maya on the Kampala-Masaka road. However, by press time, information about the accident was still scanty but the Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, said at least four people were killed.

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