Three killed in Lira road carnage

Three people died and two others were injured when a fuso lorry carrying market vendors collided with a motorcycle carrying four people in Lira town on Wednesday morning.

The lorry registration number UAN 906X from Lira town was driving on the Juba highway towards Kamdini while the motorcycle number UED 410X carrying four men was trying to join the road at Ober from Ober health centre III in Ojwina division.

One person is reported to have died on the spot, another died on arrival at Lira regional referral hospital while another died in the theatre.

The principal hospital administrator, Michael Odur said the scene was traumatizing.

However, he said one injured person who fell off the lorry is admitted at the hospital in stable condition. The name could not be immediately established by press time.

Lira officer in charge of traffic, Muhammed Bigirwa (AIP) confirmed the incident saying: "It happened as a result of careless and reckless riding."They did not stop to see and leave way for the lorry which had already approached."

Bigirwa said the owner of the ill-fated motorcycle Moses Ogwok from Dokolo district,  who was also passenger survived with injuries.

He identified the dead as Victor Ocen, 28, from Otuke district, Dan Opens, 26, and Moses Okello, 25, all residents of Ober Kampala, Ojwina division in Lira Municipality.

The four are said to be construction workers who were traveling to a construction site. Sources said a sachet of Waragi was found in the pocket of one of the dead believed to be the rider.

This is the second fatal accident this month in Lira town on the same highway.

The other accident happened on May 9 when a milk man identified as Hamson Kanyankole, 36, riding a bicycle and carrying a big can braked abruptly on approaching a hump, fell and died.

 Bigirwa said he hit his head on the tarmac and died instantly.

Bigirwa is warning the public especially cyclist to be careful on the roads. He said the number of accidents involving cyclists is on the rise.

He also warned that those who will be found carrying more than one passenger will be instantly penalized.