Police said that the preliminary findings in the fatal accident that occurs on Sunday 16, July, 2023 at Muzizi Forest along Kagadi-Kyenjojo Road was caused by reckless driving where the driver of a trailer registration number UAD 431Q failed to negotiate a corner and rammed into a Toyota Haice number UAM 426V killing 15 of its occupants instantly.
The new traffic police spokesperson SP. Micheal Kananura while addressing journalists at the Police Headquarters in the weekly press briefing, said that the trailer was traveling from S. Sudan heading to DR. Cong while the taxi was heading to Kyenjojo from Kagadi.
According to Kananura, 15 people on board in the Toyota Hiace, including the driver and conductor perished, while three others sustained serious injuries. However the driver of the Trailer and his turn man escaped death and there was also one survival in the Toyota Haice,
He also said that the survivals are being treated at Kagadi Hospital while the bodies of the deceased are also still in the mortuary of the same hospital awaiting the conclusion of the investigations such that they can be handed over to their respective relatives for burial.
Kananura also gave an update on the recent traffic accident report, were he said that a total of 432 accidents were recorded for a period of July 9- 16, 2023, with 97 being fatal, 202 were serious, and 133 were minor. Among the 424 victims, 100 lost their lives and 324 sustained injuries.
The fatalities included 42 motorcycle riders, 13 were passengers, 29 riders and 40 pedestrians. The causes of these accidents have been attributed to various factors, including:
Speeding and exceeding prescribed speed limits, careless overtaking maneuvers, overtaking on blind corners and hills, attempting overtaking maneuvers when faced with multiple vehicles ahead, Distracted driving, such as using mobile phones or messaging while operating a vehicle, Road obstruction caused by broken-down vehicles.
It is on this note that SP Kananura called upon the publice to always report broken-down vehicles to the nearest police station for proper traffic control and removal and also to be vigilant and report any road obstructions, including broken-down vehicles, to the toll-free line 0800199099
By George Bukenya