Six killed in Arua road accident
Mar 30, 2010
SIX people were killed and 25 others admitted in hospital with various injuries after the truck they were travelling in crashed along the Arua-Rhino Camp road yesterday morning.
By Frank Mugabi
SIX people were killed and 25 others admitted in hospital with various injuries after the truck they were travelling in crashed along the Arua-Rhino Camp road yesterday morning.
The northwestern regional traffic officer, Donasiano Opwonya, said the incident occurred at around 7:40am at Arikele village, about 54km from Arua town.
He said the Canter pick-up truck was carrying over 40 traders who were going for the market day at Matangacia in Rigbo sub-county near River Nile. The vehicle was also loaded with numerous sacks of food items.
“When they reached Arikele, the left-side rim broke which caused the tyre to jump off. The driver lost balance and the truck overturned,†Opwonya said.
Four people died on the spot. They included Aziku Koliata, 55, a resident of Okobi village and Gusto Adebua, 50, from Odrua village, both in Aroi sub-county.
The other two were Tom, 28, from Liria village in Manibe sub-county and Robert, 40, from Nyadule village in Kijomoro sub-county.
Two more died on the way to the hospital. They were Rekeli Tiko, 48, from Kyamayi village in Katrini sub-county, who was dealing in papyrus mats, and Gotaritho Anziyozi, 62, a wheelbarrow pusher at Gaagaa market in Arua town.
Eight of the 25 wounded sustained severe injuries. Opwonya said their findings had shown that the rim was old and had many cracks.
The truck is reported to have started its journey from Odramacaku trading centre at the Uganda-Congo border in the wee hours of the morning to avoid traffic officers who could impound it for overloading and being in poor mechanical condition.
The driver, Adaku Opima, is said to have escaped from the scene of the accident. Opwonya said the hunt for him was on.This is the second fatal accident involving a lorry carrying passengers in the area in less than a year.
In July last year, 10 farmers died when a lorry that had been hired by British American Tobacco Uganda crashed on the Arua-Yumbe road.
The lorry was carrying farmers who were going to collect payment for the crop they had sold to the tobacco company.
SIX people were killed and 25 others admitted in hospital with various injuries after the truck they were travelling in crashed along the Arua-Rhino Camp road yesterday morning.
The northwestern regional traffic officer, Donasiano Opwonya, said the incident occurred at around 7:40am at Arikele village, about 54km from Arua town.
He said the Canter pick-up truck was carrying over 40 traders who were going for the market day at Matangacia in Rigbo sub-county near River Nile. The vehicle was also loaded with numerous sacks of food items.
“When they reached Arikele, the left-side rim broke which caused the tyre to jump off. The driver lost balance and the truck overturned,†Opwonya said.
Four people died on the spot. They included Aziku Koliata, 55, a resident of Okobi village and Gusto Adebua, 50, from Odrua village, both in Aroi sub-county.
The other two were Tom, 28, from Liria village in Manibe sub-county and Robert, 40, from Nyadule village in Kijomoro sub-county.
Two more died on the way to the hospital. They were Rekeli Tiko, 48, from Kyamayi village in Katrini sub-county, who was dealing in papyrus mats, and Gotaritho Anziyozi, 62, a wheelbarrow pusher at Gaagaa market in Arua town.
Eight of the 25 wounded sustained severe injuries. Opwonya said their findings had shown that the rim was old and had many cracks.
The truck is reported to have started its journey from Odramacaku trading centre at the Uganda-Congo border in the wee hours of the morning to avoid traffic officers who could impound it for overloading and being in poor mechanical condition.
The driver, Adaku Opima, is said to have escaped from the scene of the accident. Opwonya said the hunt for him was on.This is the second fatal accident involving a lorry carrying passengers in the area in less than a year.
In July last year, 10 farmers died when a lorry that had been hired by British American Tobacco Uganda crashed on the Arua-Yumbe road.
The lorry was carrying farmers who were going to collect payment for the crop they had sold to the tobacco company.