One dead, cement trailer looted
Jul 12, 2009
<br>ONE person was killed on Friday when a speeding trailer loaded with cement knocked a stationary omnibus on the Jinja-Iganga highway. The 7:20pm accident happened at Wairaka trading centre as the conductor of the omnibus was loading passengers.
By Donald Kiirya
ONE person was killed on Friday when a speeding trailer loaded with cement knocked a stationary omnibus on the Jinja-Iganga highway. The 7:20pm accident happened at Wairaka trading centre as the conductor of the omnibus was loading passengers.
Brian Kitamirike, 21, who was at the road side waiting to board a taxi died on the spot.
After the crash, residents scrambled for the 800 bags of cement that were being transported from the Tororo Cement Factory. About 30 minutes after the crash, the trailer was empty.
Some carried the 50kg bags on their heads, while others ferried the loot using vehicles and motorcycles.
Irene Magoba, an eye witness, said: “Two trailers were coming from Iganga. One of the trailers attempted to overtake on the left and knocked the taxi from behind.â€
She said the trailer dragged the taxi and Kitamirike’s body into a trench. The taxi passengers sustained minor injuries, but the drivers of both vehicles fled in fear of being arrested by the Police who arrived at the scene after an hour.
Peter Kagina, the Jinja traffic chief attributed the accident to reckless driving.
Policemen and the local defense unit were deployed to recover the stolen cement.
By press time, about 10 bags had been recovered. Samuel Mutalya and Sylvester Ogama, a bodaboda operator, were arrested after being found with some of the cement.
ONE person was killed on Friday when a speeding trailer loaded with cement knocked a stationary omnibus on the Jinja-Iganga highway. The 7:20pm accident happened at Wairaka trading centre as the conductor of the omnibus was loading passengers.
Brian Kitamirike, 21, who was at the road side waiting to board a taxi died on the spot.
After the crash, residents scrambled for the 800 bags of cement that were being transported from the Tororo Cement Factory. About 30 minutes after the crash, the trailer was empty.
Some carried the 50kg bags on their heads, while others ferried the loot using vehicles and motorcycles.
Irene Magoba, an eye witness, said: “Two trailers were coming from Iganga. One of the trailers attempted to overtake on the left and knocked the taxi from behind.â€
She said the trailer dragged the taxi and Kitamirike’s body into a trench. The taxi passengers sustained minor injuries, but the drivers of both vehicles fled in fear of being arrested by the Police who arrived at the scene after an hour.
Peter Kagina, the Jinja traffic chief attributed the accident to reckless driving.
Policemen and the local defense unit were deployed to recover the stolen cement.
By press time, about 10 bags had been recovered. Samuel Mutalya and Sylvester Ogama, a bodaboda operator, were arrested after being found with some of the cement.