Singida road accident leaves 6 dead as 44 are in critical state
Singida residents look at the wreckage of the ill-fated bus at Manga Village where it rammed into a stationary truck on Thursday night. Six people lost their lives as tens others were injured. The Nice Line Coach Bus was heading to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam when the accident happened. PHOTO | GASPER ANDREW
What you need to know:
The cause of the accident is said to be over-speeding and carelessness on the part of the driver
Singida. At least six people died and 44 others were seriously injured in two different accidents in Singida Region yesterday.
Regional Police Commander Thobias Sedoyeka, said in the first incident, a bus called Nice Line Coach, which was heading to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam was involved in an accident at Manga Village, about 11 kilometres from Singida town.
According to an eye witness who was travelling on the bus, Mr Ron Nairo, the accident occurred at around 8pm.
He claimed that after passing the weighbridge, the driver started driving fast claiming he was trying to reach the town before sunset because he had eye complications. “After leaving the weighbridge the bus was in high speed. I was seated at the back of the driver’s seat,” he said.
He said upon leaving Manga Village, they found a truck that was stationary in the middle of the road and the driver tried to avoid it but the bus hit bricks at the roadside, causing a tyre burst. “The bus lost control.”
Mr Nairo said two bus drivers and attendants fled. Another passenger, Mr Mwita Marwa, who lost a leg, said he was travelling to Mara Region along with his wife and their three children.
He said until yesterday he did not know the whereabouts of his family members. “I was travelling with my family to Mara Region for a traditional ceremony, but as we speak I have no idea where my wife and children are,” lamented Mr Mrwa.
Singida regional hospital Dr Daniel Tarimo, said three bodies had been received and two people died while receiving treatment.
He added that the hospital received 39 injured passengers — four of them having lost their legs.
Dr Tarimo said all the injured passengers were responding well to treatment.
Meanwhile, the police said another person, Ms Febron Kwayu, 31, died after a vehicle she was travelling in overturned at Kindai Village in Singida Municipality. According to police, the vehicle was heading to Shinyanga from Dar es Salaam.
Five other passengers were injured in the accident.
