A fatal accident occurred on Thursday when a speeding trailer, registration number KBC 135Z, collided with a taxi, registration number UAK 267E, at Kasunganyaja Trading Center in Bunyangabu District. The collision resulted in the deaths of two individuals, identified as the trailer driver and a pedestrian who was crossing the road at the time.
Four passengers from the taxi sustained serious injuries and were promptly transported to Kilembe Hospital in Kasese District and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital for treatment. The taxi driver is currently reported to be on the run, and authorities are actively searching for him.
The incident unfolded at 11 am near a notorious blackspot, a sharp corner that has witnessed several crashes over the years, according to local residents. Witnesses and authorities confirmed that both vehicles were en route to Kasese District when the tragedy occurred.
Eyewitness Mr. Robert Mugume recounted that the trailer driver was speeding and sounding the horn as it approached Kasunganyaja Trading Center. However, despite attempts to negotiate the sharp corner, the driver failed to brake in time, colliding with the taxi that had just set off from the stage.
“The taxi driver had just parked at the stage. When he saw the trailer coming, he jumped behind the steering wheel and attempted to drive away, but it was too late,” explained Mr. Mugume. The impact not only struck a pedestrian but also caused the trailer to bounce off a hump, overturning several times.
Rwenzori West region police spokesperson, Mr. Vincent Twesige, provided information on the injured taxi passengers being treated at different hospitals. He urged vehicle owners to prioritize regular servicing, emphasizing that proper maintenance could have potentially averted the tragic collision.
This accident is reminiscent of a similar incident in February 2021 at the same location, where four lives were lost when a fuel truck lost control and collided with another truck loaded with bananas.
