Market vendor dies, two sustain injuries after overloaded truck overturns

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At least one vendor died on the spot, and several others sustained injuries when a truck overloaded with luggage and market traders hit a pothole and overturned.

According to Police, the overloaded lorry carrying vendors from Rutenga Market hit a pothole and swerved off the road before overturning. The incident occurred at about 6:00pm on Wednesday (May 20) at Mashenya village in Kanungu district.

In the process, one vendor died while several others who were hanging on top of their merchandise fell off and sustained injuries.

The Kigezi region police spokesman, Elly Maate, identified the deceased as Kenneth Owomugisha, 35, a resident of Rwangoboka cell in Nyakinoni sub-county, Kanungu.

Some of the injured included Jenifer Kesande from Kanyantorogo village, and a one Fortune from Kihihi town, both in Kanungu. The injured were rushed to Katate Health Centre IV for treatment, Maate said.

“The truck had been overloaded with merchandise, and when it reached a potholed road, it lost balance and fell on one side, throwing away all those hanging on top,” Maate said.

Maate said the police visited the scene of crime, removed the body and rushed the injured to Katate Health Centre IV for treatment.

Maate blamed the vendors for overloading the trucks, which he said often puts their lives at risk.