Tanzania road crash leaves 15 dead, 13 injured
Saturday September 08 2018
The scene of an accident in Mbeya, Tanzania. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN
Fifteen people died and 13 were injured when a truck carrying potatoes crashed into five vehicles in the southern Tanzanian town of Mbeya.
The truck was driving down a steep hill when the accident happened on Friday night.
"Yet again we have lost fellow citizens in a road accident, while others are injured. I am deeply saddened," President John Magufuli was quoted as saying in the statement.
“We received 13 deceased who died on the spot and two others lost their lives while receiving treatment. Two more victims are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” said Dr Petro Seme at the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital.
He said four victims have been discharged while several others continue to receive treatment.
According to the police, the accident involved two petroleum tankers, two trucks and a minibus.
Road accidents in Tanzania are common, often due to speeding, overloading of vehicles, poor road and vehicle conditions, but also lax road safety enforcement by police.
In March, 24 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck, while the following month a similar accident left 12 dead and 46 injured.
Last Sunday five people, including two tourists from Spain and two from Italy were killed in accident in the north of the country.