A convoy carrying three county commissioners was involved in a road accident near Yambio in Western Equatoria State on Tuesday afternoon, leaving several security officers with minor injuries.
The officials were travelling to Yambio ahead of the official reception for the newly appointed governor on Wednesday when one of the vehicles in the convoy overturned.
John Jeremiah, press secretary to the Maridi County commissioner, said the accident happened at about 3pm near Yambio Airstrip, close to a Pentecostal church.
He said the convoy consisted of four vehicles – three carrying the commissioners and one transporting soldiers from Division Six of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
“The vehicle carrying the soldiers overturned after the driver lost control,” Jeremiah said, adding that five soldiers were injured. He said there were no fatalities and no serious injuries.
The commissioners travelling in the convoy were Daniel Saleh Ballash of Maridi County, Charles Koro of Mundri East County and Zerifa Dawa of Mundri West County. None of them was injured.
Ms Dawa told Radio Tamazuj that the accident occurred when a cyclist suddenly appeared in front of the security vehicle near the airstrip.
“Our vehicle did not crash. Only the security forces vehicle was involved. The injured soldiers have been taken to hospital and are receiving treatment,” she said.
The Western Equatoria State traffic director, Santo Arkangelo Ginana, said the vehicle was travelling from Maridi to Yambio with five soldiers and six police officers on board when the driver lost control.
He confirmed that the injuries were minor and that there were no deaths. The driver has been detained at Yambio police station pending an investigation.
Authorities said inquiries into the cause of the accident are continuing.