Boda boda rider killed by speeding truck in Mbale

By David Oduut

MBALE - A boda boda rider (motorcyclist) was hit by a speeding lorry and died on spot in an accident that left two pedestrians injured.

The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was crashed by an oncoming truck along Majanga Road, Industrial division in Mbale town on Wednesday.

During the crash that killed David Wanyera, two walkers were also critically injured, and are currently receiving treatment at Mbale Main Hospital.

An eyewitness said the driver of the lorry – identified only as Mayanja – lost control of the vehicle at a slope near Cure Children’s Hospital gate, ramming into the victims.

“The tipper lorry was driving at a terrible speed. The driver lost control and swayed to the right, hitting the motorcyclist and two other pedestrians,” said Benon Madada, who washes cars at the nearby Jet Car Wash.

Police got to the scene of the accident just in time to quell ensuing chaos where fellow motorcyclists wanted to burn the lorry in a revenge attack for their colleague’s death.

A police officer at the scene told New Vision that the impact of the crash would perhaps not have been deadly if the dead man was wearing a helmet.

Muhammad Bwayo, a chief advisor at Mbale Boda Boda Operators Association, said it is a common habit for motorcyclists to ride without helmets in Mbale town.

“We have always advised them [to wear helmets] in vain and they have even defied municipal enforcements. It is sad that their stubbornness makes them die miserably like this,” he said.

He noted that 12 boda boda cyclists have perished in road accidents in the last two months in Mbale town, and several others have escaped but with broken limbs. Others have had to pay fines for reckless road use.

Stella Akello, the office in charge at the Central Police Station (CPS) Mbale, said police is to embark on a road safety operation which will see all motorcyclists wearing protective gear like helmets for both riders and their passengers.