Nebbi Lorry Crash Kills 18

By Steven CandiaEIGHTEEN people perished when their lorry veered off the road and overturned near Ayuda Bridge in Okoro county, Nebbi on Monday night, the Police said yesterday.Police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi said 12 passengers were rushed to Nyapea hospital and a Paidha dispensary in critical condition. He feared the death toll would go up.Mugenyi said 11 people died on the spot while five died in Nyapea hospital in the 7:00pm accident that occurred about six kilometres from Paidha town. Yesterday afternoon two other victims were pronounced dead by Nyapea medical staff.Mugenyi said the Tata lorry was loaded with produce and 40 traders. The passengers were returning from the Congo border market of Kudi Koka and were heading for Paidha.Nebbi District Police commander Samson Onyai who rushed to the scene yesterday, described the accident as horrific.He said the lorry was carrying produce and 40 passengers. Its brakes failed as the truck rolled down a slope at a corner near a bridge.Most passengers were traders from Arua, Nebbi and Paidha.The dead are Wilfred Berocan, Albert Fuacan, Swale Hammed, Adinan Abdalla of Paidha, Albert Ofoyi of Arua, Godi Odar, Swaibu Hassan, Sylvester Okwana and Pachu Odago. Others were Rasul, Atoma, Kadala, Fatuma, Ogera, Ndukutho, Warom Giramia and an unidentified man.Ends