One Dead, 16 injured after truck ploughs seven cars in Kampala

One person has been confirmed dead while sixteen others are nursing serious injuries after a runaway truck loaded with granite ploughed through stationary cars at the Kira Road traffic lights.

The accident happened at about 5:15 pm on Wednesday when a Ford truck registration number UAA 497L which was coming from Bukoto, failed to brake, jumped two red lights and ploughed into seven cars.

Among the cars was a taxi van registration number UAW 100S, Pioneer Bus reg. no. UAR 679J, a Toyota Ipsum reg. no. UAS 511L and a taxi van reg. no. UAB 185J among others.

Speaking to New Vision at the scene, Julius Bwamiki a taxi driver who survived the accident, said he loaded 14 passengers from Bukoto and was driving ahead of the truck.

“When I stopped at the Kira Road traffic lights and looked at the rear view mirror, I saw the that the driver was struggling with the truck and I immediately jumped out of the car and fell on the other side,” he narrated.

Bwamiki, 38, a resident of Kiwatule, said he only jumped out his car after he heard loud hooting from the truck.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire said they are expecting the number of the injured to rise. He called on the public to stay calm adding that Police is trying to identify the victims and contact their relatives.

He, however, applauded the joint operation between the Police and public to rescue the victims from the cars saying they saved many.

Additional reporting by New Vision