A 37-year-old Ugandan driver identified as Richard Wuzunza knocked and killed a man, Olony John Okech, along the Juba-Nimule highway on Wednesday last week.
Authorities say the FUSO truck was travelling from Nimule to Juba but met with an accident between Oboma and Nyolo villages in the territory of Eastern Equatoria state.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Captain George, the director of traffic in Nimule said:” “This incident happened on Wednesday at 5 pm between Oboma and Nyolo, the person knocked dead is Olony John Okech, 42 years and an Acholi by tribe. He was a resident of Oboma village.”
“The FUSO truck was going from Nimule here and has plate number UAY 817E, the driver is Richard Wuzunza, 37 years old. According to the investigations, Richard was moving at 80 kilometres per hour, this is the required speed on a highway but it was a corner that is why he did not see the person he knocked. The driver is currently in police custody, including the vehicle. Investigations are going on well in Nimule because the place where the accident happens is in the geographical location of Eastern Equatoria State,” Captain Juma explained.
Meanwhile, the director of traffic in Eastern Equatoria State, Brigadier General Louis Idenge Onorio, warned drivers against overspeeding.
“People are celebrating Christmas with great joy, people should put life first and joy later and please drive responsibly. Life is more important than a car, than speeding, don’t put money first. This overloading is bad, you may get money easily but not life. I want to tell people who are responsible in the bus parks because they know which car is overloaded to save others,” Gen Louis said.
The highway has recently witnessed several fatal accidents resulting from speeding and traffic rules violations.
On the 20th November 2020, a military land cruiser belonging to SSPDF’s 7th Division collided with a Ugandan commercial lorry on the highway killing a soldier on the spot.
The incident happened near Aru Junction when a military car was travelling from Magwi to Nimule on his right-hand side while the truck was going from Nimule to Juba
On the 24th November 2020, 15 passengers including 8 women were hospitalized at Nimule hospital after two commuter vehicles collided along the Juba-Nimule highway. Both drivers according to authorities were overspeeding leading to the collision.