23 Killed, 34 Hurt in Iringa Road Crash

Twenty-three people died on the spot and 34 others were seriously injured after a Scania semi-trailer and a Coaster minibus collided head on in Iringa Region on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Acting Iringa Regional Police Commander Pudenciana Protas, said the accident occurred on Sunday at Kinyanambo A area in Mafinga Township within the region when the Coaster was overtaking two other vehicles at ago. 

 

She said the semi-trailer whose driver died on the spot was Dar es Salaam bound from Zambia and was loaded with copper.

 

The RPC said the bus belonging to G Express Company with registration number T 927 CEF and the semi trailer with registration numbers T916 AQM and T965BEH, for the horse and trailer, respectively was involved in the accident at 19.45 hours.

 

 “The cause of the accident is reckless driving,” said the acting RPC, referring to overtaking without taking precaution measures. However, the driver of the Coaster survived after he smelt the rat in the course of overtaking.

 

By the time we went to press, police had identified at least 18 bodies which had already been identified by relatives.

 

The acting Regional Police boss mentioned some of those who lost their lives as Lukas Pascal, Brasto Samila, Dickson Luvanda, Albert Silla, Rogers Mdoe, Eva Mbalinga, Hadija Mkoi, Clemence Mtati, Mohamed Kalika, Kastoli Mwakyamba, Damian Myala and Sillo Nziku.

 

The identification of the remaining bodies was still in progress. The Regional Police Commander said the remaining bodies were preserved at the Mufindi District Hospital.

 

She said some of the injuried were receiving treatment at the district hospital while some have been transferred to the Iringa Referral Hospital.

 

The acting Police Commander identified the injured as Majoline Lupembe (23), Veronica Simba (20), Shadia Ally (24), Mariam Mbise (23), Anita Makwela (24), Benita Sagala (18), Bertha Mkoi (27), Rahel Mavika (18), Selina Fulgence (23) and Maria Mwenda (17).

 

She named others as Ndipako Mbilinyi (23), Alexander Mkakazii (28), Meshack Kibiki (44), Simon Jumbe (22), Jerry Lutego (36), Enock Kanyika (18), Deogratius Kayombo (21) and Yusuph Lulanda (22).

 

The list also included Petro Mwalongo (21), Paulo Chane (21), Kenned Msemwa (28), Mode Shiraz (21), Emmanuel Anthony (21), Godfrey Kanyika (39), Boniface Bosha (20), Ambiana Meshack (35), Martha Kanyika (30), Merina Tonga (two months old), Yusuph Luhamba (34) and two other women who are in critical condition.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN