Three people died on the spot and two others were injured after a truck was involved in an accident with a motorcycle last Saturday in Yambio County of Western Equatoria State.
The truck was loaded with timber on which eight people were perched. Those deceased include the motorcyclist and two of the men on the truck.
The deputy police commissioner in the state, Elia Costa Faustino, said the vehicle overturned due to speeding and that the injured passengers were being treated at Yambio hospital. The dead were handed over to their relatives, he said.
“There was a truck coming from Sakure at the border with (DR) Congo carrying timber and eight people on top. They were overspeeding trying to overtake a motorbike but the truck touched the motorbike and overturned,” Costa said. “It broke the motorbike, killed the rider and two people from the truck also died on the spot. Two people sustained injuries and are currently under medication in the hospital. After receiving the information, our team carried all those involved in the accident to the hospital and did their legal processes and handed the dead bodies to their relatives.”
He cautioned drivers against speeding and urged them to check the condition of their vehicles.
“I call on all the drivers to be very careful on the road, all drivers must use reasonable speed, and the maximum speed is 60 km per hour. The most important thing is the condition of the vehicle in terms of brakes, and the engine itself must be in good condition to allow drivers to control the vehicle,” Costa advised.