Singida accident claims 12 lives

ABBY NKUNGU in Singida

TWELVE people have died and 22 others injured in a ghastly road accident which occurred at Ighuka village, Ikungi District along Singida- Manyoni Highway.

The accident occurred on Thursday night after a vehicle in which they were travelling in from a wedding ceremony was involved in a head-on collision with another van which was ferrying mourners from a funeral.

Singida Regional Police Commander (RPC), ACP Debora Magiligimba, said that the accident occurred on November 23, this year, in the evening, involving a Toyota Hiace with registration number T581 BBV which was heading to Manyoni from Singida town and another vehicle, T423 CFF travelling from Manyoni to Singida town.

She said that although a thorough investigation on the cause of the accident is still going on, initial reports indicate that the main reason behind the fatal accident is over speeding and reckless driving by the Hiace driver.

“Some of the wounded told us the driver of the Hiace who was coming from Singida town shifted from his side to the other side of the road, causing his car to collide with a Toyota Noah, causing the deaths of 10 passengers on the spot, “ she explained.

Medical Officer-In- Charge at the Singida Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Ng’hungu Kusenza, said that two injured people who were admitted to Puma Missionary Hospital for treatment died while undergoing treatment, raising the death toll to 12.

He named the deceased whose bodies were preserved at the regional hospital’ mortuary as John Duma, Jasson Nsunza, Abubakar Omar, Mary Kinku, Mwanaidi Juma and Husna Juma.

Others whose bodies are at Puma Missionary Hospital in Ikungi district include Ezekiel Joseph, Moses Daniel, Namtaki Daniel, Hamis Omar, Jumanne Mganga and Wansola Shalua.

According to records available, this is the third fatal road carnage since 2007, when 25 passengers perished in a road accident after a bus belonging to Mohamed Trans caught fire just as it reached Singida town and recently when 13 people died at Mkiwa village after their mini-bus overturned.