A tragic road accident on the Mbarara-Bushenyi road in Western Uganda has claimed three lives and left seven others seriously injured. The crash occurred early Monday morning in Mbarara District.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the accident happened around 7:30 a.m. when the driver of a Mark II Grande lost control after hitting a pothole, causing the car to collide with a Toyota Wish. The driver of the Mark II and a co-passenger died instantly, while two others in the vehicle were injured. Five occupants of the Toyota Wish were also severely hurt.
Tragically, as first responders were evacuating victims, a Toyota Hiace taxi sped through the scene and struck one of the survivors, resulting in a fatality. The driver of the Hiace was later intercepted at a police checkpoint in Mbarara.
Traffic police attributed the primary cause of the accident to reckless driving and poor road conditions, highlighting the need for urgent pothole repairs. Authorities urged drivers to adhere to speed limits and exercise caution near crash scenes to prevent secondary accidents.
The Mark II’s doors remained locked after the crash, requiring responders to cut through the wreckage to reach survivors. The Hiace taxi, coming from behind a parked bus, struck both a survivor and a helper as they were being moved to another vehicle for transport to the hospital.
A local taxi driver on the Mbarara-Bushenyi route expressed frustration over the potholes, noting that several drivers have recently lost their lives due to poor road conditions. He questioned why authorities continue to make temporary fixes instead of undertaking permanent repairs, pointing to the taxes and fees drivers pay to maintain safe roads.