Three killed en route from marriage ceremony

By Godfrey Ojore

Three people died on spot when the truck they were traveling on back from a traditional marriage ceremony crashed, police said on Saturday.

It was learnt that 25 others aboard the same vehicle survived with injuries and were rushed to Amai Hospital in Amolatar district.

A one-and-a-half-year-old child was among the survivors of the Saturday evening accident that occurred about a half-a-kilometre from Ochero trading centre in Kaberamaido district.

Police said it was very likely the driver of the Tipper truck, which had been hired by its passengers, was driving under the influence of alcohol.

The victims involved were en route to Amolatar district from a marriage function that took place in Dokolo district.

Police identified the dead as Sam Ongica, Denis Ojok and Apila – all from Amolatar.

The driver of the ill-fated truck fled immediately after the accident.

Officer-in-charge at Ochero police station, Alex Okwi told New Vision he learnt that Ogwal was drunk and possibly slept off behind the wheel.

“After interviewing the survivors I have learnt that the driver was drunk and there is a possibility that he slept off,” he said.

A survivor told of how fast it happened. He said the vehicle suddenly veered off the road at some point of their journey and tipped over.

 “The driver was not speeding but of sudden we realized the speed increasing and within seconds we were down,” he recalled.