23 killed in bus smash

At least 23 people died on the spot while 34 others were injured in a bus accident that occurred along the Iringa-Mbeya highway on Sunday evening. Five of the injured are in critical condition.

The Iringa Acting Regional Police Commander, Ms Pudenciana Protas, said that the accident took place at Kinyanambo in Mufindi District when the driver of a speeding bus tried to overtake cars in front of him.

She said that the bus then collided with an oncoming lorry which was on its way to Dar es Salaam from Zambia. The driver of the lorry, identified as Mr Rogers Mdoe, was among the those who died on the spot.

The driver of the bus tried to escape but was arrested. He is being held in police custody and is expected to be charged in court with the offence.

Survivors of the grisly accident were nursing serious injuries at the Mufindi District Hospital while the bodies of those who died were awaiting identification at the same hospital.

One of the survivors in the ill-fated bus, Mr Petro Mwalongo, told The Citizen that before the accident occurred, the bus in which they were travelling was speeding despite appeals by the passengers to the driver to reduce the speed.

The Mufindi District Medical Officer, Dr Goodluck Mlimbila said 23 bodies from the accident scene were received at the hospital and added that five of the 34 casualties were in critical condition and were referred to Iringa Regional Hospital.

Dr Mlimbila said that seven of the survivors were treated and discharged and that relatives were arriving at the hospital to identify those who died in the road carnage.  SOURCE:THE CITIZEN