One person has been confirmed dead while at least twelve others sustained serious injuries following a fatal road accident that occurred on the evening of Wednesday, at Corner Amach along the Lira–Soroti highway.The deceased has been identified as Olobo Fabias, an employee of Mota Engil Road Construction Company.
According to police, the accident involved a Mercedes Benz Actross semi-trailer (Reg No. KCM 0711 A/ZB 1076) whose driver is currently on the run, and a Coaster bus (Reg No. UBN 572P) belonging to Mota Engil, driven by Otim Patrick.
Police reports indicate that the Coaster was ferrying staff from Soroti towards Lira when, upon reaching Corner Amach at around 8:00 pm, it collided head-on with the trailer that had veered off its lane during heavy rainfall.Both vehicles swerved off the road after the collision.
The injured victims, all employees of Mota Engil, have been identified as Auro Rehema, Omongot Lawrence, Omedi Quinto, Kasula Ronald, Ayuli Denis, Echeng Benard, Acio Monica, Alele Richard, Acheng Charity, Okalebo Jethrom, Akullo Patricia, and Opiny Joshua.
They were rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for emergency treatment.
Police said the body of the deceased was conveyed to the hospital mortuary pending postmortem examination, while the two vehicles remain at the accident scene under guard awaiting breakdown services.
North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, attributed the cause of the crash to reckless driving by the trailer driver, who fled the scene.
He urged the driver to surrender himself at the nearest police station.Okema further appealed to all drivers and road users to exercise maximum caution, especially during heavy rains, noting that it is safer to park by the roadside than risk lives through reckless driving.
