Nebbi- Three students were Tuesday April 10, killed and 57 others injured in two separate accidents involving secondary school trucks that were transporting students to a music concert at the Catholic mission in Nebbi District.
According to eye witnesses one of the accidents happened when a tipper lorry Reg No UAH 843D that belongs to Uringi Secondary School in Nebbi District overturned as the driver was trying to avoid a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Ms. Josephine Angucia, the West Nile region police spokesperson confirmed that the accident happened as the driver George Jakony,33, tried to apply the brakes on a slope, causing the vehicle carrying 62 students to overturn. Two were killed on spot while several others were injured. The accident occurred at 9:00am on Kei road in Jupuriek village Goli parish Nebbi Sub-county.
Ms Angucia identified the deceased as Linda Akech, 16, a Senior 3 student, Irene Manano 18, S.4 student, and one a-yet-to-be identified male student of S.5 who died from Nebbi hospital. The students were going for Music and Drama competition at Nebbi Catholic Diocesan headquarters in Nebbi town.
She noted that the 53 students, most of whom sustained serious injuries, were rushed to Goli Health Centre IV and Nebbi hospital in Nebbi town and the three bodies had been taken for post-mortem at Nebbi hospital.
Ms. Angucia said the driver Jakony was arrested and detained at Nebbi Police Station to assist with inquiries under a case file number Nebbi TAR 19/2018.
In yet another accident minutes later at 9:21am on Tuesday morning in Nebbi district, Ms. Angucia confirmed that along the same Paidha-Nebbi road, a driver of a tipper lorry Reg No UBB 740X, also carrying students who were going for the same music competition, lost control and dropped four students of a yet-to-be identified school leaving them with serious injuries. The driver reportedly was attempting to dodge a ditch on the road. She said no death was registered.
The police spokesperson noted that the four students were rushed for treatment at Nebbi hospital as police inquiries continue.
