A 45-year-old Eritrean driver has been arrested after his truck was involved in a grisly accident with a motorcycle rider that led to the deaths of the motorist (bodaboda) and his passenger along the Torit-Juba highway.
Maj. Gen. John Luny the acting police commissioner in Eastern Equatoria state told Radio Tamazuj today that the accident happened at the Khor Lakbata in Imurok Payam, Torit County on Saturday night.
“There was a heavy truck going to Juba and it has one light. At the Khorlakbata area, these young boys thought maybe it is a bodaboda coming because it had one light, so they came and knocked themselves on this vehicle on Saturday,” Luny said. “Their bodies were brought to the hospital for postmortem and the relatives later took the bodies for burial.”
Luny said the driver identified only as Koldhesne has been arrested for investigations. He also cautioned drivers to maintain accepted speed limits while on highways at all times and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.
Dr. Mustaffa Lokuru, the medical director at Torit State Hospital confirmed that they received the bodies of the two victims.
He said the police should ensure all vehicles moving especially at night have lights to avoid such accidents.
“It is the responsibility of traffic police. They should make sure those traveling at night have all lights functioning so that it does not confuse other road users,” he said. “The traffic police should investigate the accident and ensure vehicles going through Torit to Juba have all the lights in place because it indicates the safety of the rider and passengers as well.”