Lango Web

By Bonney Odongo in Lira 12 May 2009

One of the injured passengers being treated by nurses in Lira Hospital

One person died instantly and over twenty others sustained serious injuries when a truck they were traveling in, overturned at corner Ojoro in Ayami, Aromo Sub County-Lira district on Tuesday morning.

The vehicle which was being driven by Peterson Opito was transporting traders and their merchandise from Lira to Patongo market in Pader district when it overturned at about 80km along Lira-Kitgum highway.

Phillips Wandera, the officer in charged traffic at Lira CPS, said the vehicle registration number UAA 938R loaded with over forty passengers overturned because the front right wheel developed a mechanical problem and went off the axle.

He identified the deceased as Harriet Adite, a resident of Teso Bar in Adyel division, Lira municipality. The police took the body to the hospital mortuary for post mortem.

Those injured and admitted in Lira hospital include Bosco Obote, Bosco Ali, Geoffrey Odongo, Emmanuel Ayo, Bosco Okello, Patrick Okello, Santa Apili, Anyinge Mila, Lilly Akullu and Cinderella Apio.

Others who were also hospitalized are Awidi Lilly, Grace Akoli, Grace Amongi, Akech Lillian, and Lillian Auma among others.

The police said preliminary information reveals that the truck had a worn out nuts on the rim which could have caused the accident although investigations were still going on.

A Survivor, Okello Maxwell, ruled out speculations that the driver was over speeding but said the vehicle could have stayed for long without being serviced.

"The driver was at a normal speed but we suddenly saw the vehicle leaving the road and suddenly it overturned",  Okello said.

However, Wandera warned drivers against transporting passengers in vehicles that are in a mechanically dangerous condition to avoid such accidents from occurring.