South Sudan deadly road accident claims several lives
September 7, 2016 (JUBA) – At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after a deadly road traffic accident involving two commercial vehicles traveling in opposite directions along Juba-Nimule highway on Tuesday.
“Yes, I just received report of this unfortunate incident on the Juba- Nimule high way. I am told by our traffic colleagues who visited the scene that it was a head on collision which claimed the lives of all the 10 passengers in the bus,” he said.
“We have not yet identified the bodies of the people that have died. What we did as the authority was to expedite recovery process so that those injured are brought to the Juba teaching hospital where they are getting medical care. For those who have died, we are trying to trace their family members and relatives to pass on them this unfortunate information,” he further explained.
The accident, he said, occurred at around 10am after buses leaving for neighbouring Uganda left the station.
Eye witnesses who spoke to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday from Pageri said some of those who sustained injuries are in critical conditions and the death toll may rise.
One bus was going to Uganda and the other was coming from Uganda to Juba when the accident occurred. The buses belonged to Gateway Company.
The injured passengers have been evacuated to Juba Teaching Hospital where they are receiving treatment. The circumstances under which the two drivers lost control remain unclear.
Police authorities are yet to conduct detailed inspection to establish the actual cause of such deadly head on collision in an area with no corridors to be suspected as the major cause of collision.
Juba-Nimule highway, the only tarmacked road in South Sudan with over 200kms and has had dozens of traffic accidents for the past few years.
(ST)