Kenyan driver held for smashing car in Lira

PIC: Job Ojwang looking at the wreakage of his vehicle at Lira CPS

ACCIDENT | LIRA

A Kenyan truck driver is being held at Lira Central Police Station for allegedly causing an accident.

Joseph G'tongotheori is said to have smashed a stationery saloon car in Lira town yesterday afternoon.

Police said G'tongotheori was flagged down in Dokolo by fika salama officers, but he defied the order and continued to Lira.

The officer in charge of traffic at Lira CPS, Muhamed Bigirwa, said he was briefed about the driver by his counterpart in Dokolo and told to intercept the truck. He said he alerted officers on the Dokolo-Lira highway, who tried to stop the driver, but he refused to stop.

Bigirwa said he then went and intercepted G'tongotheori at Uhuru Bar in Lira Municipality and ordered him to drive to Lira CPS, but he was hesitant and accused the Police of targeting him for being a Kikuyu and a supporter of Uhuru Kenyatta.

Bigirwa said he then deployed a Police officer to escort the vehicle to Lira CPS, but on their way, the man started to drive recklessly and ended up causing the accident.

PIC: The truck that G'tongotheori was driving

G'tongotheori was driving an Isuzu Box body registration number KBS 685T without any goods.

An eye witness said he saw G'tongotheori wrestle with a Police officer on the steering wheel before the vehicle lost control, hitting a padle cycle and the parked saloon vehicle, registration number UAX 792D.

The owner of the saloon vehicle, Joe Ojwang, said he had taken it for washing when he heard a loud bang.

Ojwang said he wants the person responsible for the accident to buy him a new car.

Both vehicles have been towed to Lira CPS.

Bigirwa said G'tongotheori was found to be drunk on alcohol. He attributed the accident to carelessness and drink driving.