Nationals of 7 countries among 25 killed in Arusha road smash

Arusha. Foreign nationals from seven countries were among 25 people who were killed in Saturday’s road accident in Arusha.

The worst road tragedy in Arusha for years happened when a Kenyan-registered lorry ploughed into three vehicles in Ngaramtoni area.

The vehicles – a minibus, a school bus and a saloon car – were all heading in the same direction (towards Arusha) as the lorry.

The dead, according to a statement from Presidential Communications director Zuhura Yunus, included Kenyan, Togolese, Madagascan, Burkinabe, South African, Nigerian and US nationals.

Among the 21 survivors were visitors from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Cameroon, United Kingdom, Mali and Hawaii.

Many of the deceased are believed to have on the three smaller vehicles.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has sent a message of condolences to Arusha regional commissioner John Mongella, saying she was deeply saddened by the accident and wished those injured quick recovery.

Mount Meru Regional Hospital was on Sunday the scene of grief as hundreds of people thronged the facility to identify bodies and console the survivors.

Among them were Home Affairs deputy minister Jumanne Sagini and his Health counterpart Godwin Mollel and Arusha regional and district officials.

Speaking at the hospital, Mr Sagini confirmed that the death toll was 25 as earlier announced by regional police commander Justine Masejo on Saturday evening.

“This is the worst road crash to be recorded in the country this year,” he said as he consoled the injured.

He directed the Police Force to use every means in their capacity to ensure road accidents of such magnitude do not recur and should come to an end.

Mr Sagini praised police and staff at the hospital for their response to the accident.

According to him, ten out of 11 people who were rushed to hospital with serious injuries were now in a stable condition.

The deputy minister said the survivors include the foreign nationals but was not clear on their state of injuries they sustained.

The driver of the Kenyan-registered trailer which crashed onto the three vehicles is reported to have fled the scene of the accident after the crash.

The deputy minister directed that the roadworthiness of vehicles crossing into the country from outside should be verified before being allowed in.

“No one can be convinced that the lorry is roadworthy. It looks like it has not been taken for maintenance and repairs for a long time,” he said.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan is among leaders who have condoled with the bereaved families, saying she was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

According to Mr Sagini, the Head of State wants enhanced inspection of vehicles plying the country’s roads to assure safety of road users.

Dr Alex Ernest of Mount Meru Hospital said they started to receive the bodies of the deceased at around 6pm on Saturday, an hour after the crash.

Initially they received 21 bodies and later followed by four other bodies which were brought in from other health facilities within the city. 

Residents of the Ngaramtoni area have called on the responsible authorities to erect road bumps in order to minimise the road fatalities.

Eyewitnesses said the lorry with registration number KAC 943H and trailer ZF 6778 was seen swerving on the road for some metres before crushing onto the three other vehicles, apparently after its brakes failed.