This is why the accident that killed 11 JKT servicemen happened
What you need to know:
The accident happened on Thursday at Mwansekwa slope in Mbeya, killing a total of 13 people including a driver and conductor and that 48 others were injured. The soldiers were travelling from Igunga, Tabora to Itende in Mbeya Region for practical training.
Mbeya. A day after 11 National servicemen died in a road accident reports say the driver’s recklessness was part of what caused the accident to happen.More reports say the servicemen survived two incidences when they left Tabora on Thursday prior to the actual accident.
But when they reached the Mwansekwa slope in Mbeya the driver could not control the vehicle and so the accident occurred killing 13 people including the driver himself and the conductor. 48 others were injured.The servicemen were traveling from Igunga District in Tabora to Itende in Mbeya Region.
Speaking to The Citizen, one of the survivors admitted at Mbeya Referral Hospital, Mr Jovas Matelo, 20, said the driver was reckless.
“The bus slipped off the road in at least two occasions. We only survived by the grace of God. The first time we slipped was at a very sharp corner when the driver was riding at a high speed,” he said, adding,
“All of us screamed, just to find some of us thrown into the bush.”
According to him, the second time was when they were passing another sharp corner. He recalled that the driver received directives on the road from the conductor.
Speaking after visiting survivors, the Mbeya District Commissioner, Mr William Ntinika said preliminary investigations shows that poor road familiarization by the driver was the cause of accident.
He said that was the third accident to take place in the area.
Head of Itende National Service Camp (844JKT), Colonel David Mwaijumba said the National Service will issue a statement on Monday, noting that for the time being they were communicating with families of the dead and casualties.
