A tragic accident along the Magwi-Abara road last Thursday resulted in the death of a bodaboda rider and left another in critical condition. The collision occurred when two motorcycles collided, causing severe injuries to both riders.
The victim who tragically succumbed to his injuries has been identified as Okee Paul Yasito, aged 36 years old. The accident happened around 7:20 PM, and the injured riders were rushed to the Magwi Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) for emergency medical attention.
Authorities have identified the cause of the accident as one of the motorcycles lacking headlights. 1st Lt. Ongee Jackson, the director of Traffic Police in Magwi, emphasized the importance of adhering to road rules and regulations and following road signs.
He explained the details of the collision, stating, “On the 26th of July along Magwi-Abara road at around 7:20 PM, two motorcycle riders collided when one of the riders who was travelling from Magwi to Abara collided head-on with another motorcyclist who was travelling in the opposite direction. The injuries to both victims were very serious.”
He continued, “Both victims were rushed to Magwi PHCC, and unfortunately, one of the victims, identified as Okee Paul Yasito, aged thirty-six (36), passed away some hours after being attended to by doctors. The other victim identified as Kina Paul, aged 26, remains in critical condition.”
1st Lt. Ongee urged all riders to respect the speed limits set by the Traffic Police and emphasized that following road signs could prevent such accidents. He also highlighted the collaboration with the Bodaboda Association Union in Magwi to create awareness about road safety and address issues concerning their members.
Omwony William, head of Jamaica Bodaboda Park in Magwi, expressed deep sorrow over the untimely death of their colleague and attributed the accident to poor lighting on the road. He made an appeal to fellow Bodaboda riders to avoid over-speeding and ensure regular maintenance and servicing of their motorcycles to minimize accidents, especially during nighttime.
“One of the motorbikes travelling from Abara to Magwi and another travelling from Magwi to Abara did not have functional headlights. The motorcycle travelling from Abara to Magwi had headlights that were working. We feel really sad about losing one of our colleagues. All Bodaboda riders should service their motorcycles to ensure that the headlights, backlight, indicator are all working properly. And we should all avoid over-speeding, especially at night,” said Omwony.