Seven people perish, 22 Injured in Kilwa Road accident

Dar es Salaam. Seven people have died and 22 others were severely wounded in Kilwa District, Lindi Region, when two buses collided head-on on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Lindi Regional Police Commander (RPC) Pili Mande informed The Citizen on Friday, October 6, 2023, that the accident occurred at 2pm in Kiwawa Village, Kilwa District.

Among the seven fatalities are bus drivers Lucas John (59), a resident of Arusha, and Omary Abdallah (47), a resident of Dar es Salaam.

"The two drivers and five other unidentified passengers died at the scene. Their remains have been preserved at Kinyonga Hospital in Kilwa District," stated the regional police chief.

RPC Mande said the 22 survivors, including two women and one male child, were immediately admitted to the hospital for treatment. She added that medics were closely monitoring the progress of 18 survivors, noting that they would be discharged upon significant improvement.

Kilwa District Hospital's medical in-charge, Lusajo Mwakajoka, who confirmed to have received seven fatalities and 22 injured individuals (11 males and 11 females), said three survivors were rushed to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for specialised treatment.

Currently, only eighteen injured passengers remain hospitalised.

Providing further details, the RPC explained that the accident occurred when a coach from the Saibaba Express firm, traveling from Nachingwea in Lindi Region to Dar es Salaam, collided with another coach owned by Baharia Bus Service, which operates between Dar es Salaam and Tandahimba in Mtwara Region.

“The accident happened when the Saibaba Express driver attempted to overtake a truck," she stated, citing eyewitness accounts.

A survivor, Mr. Shabani Chinyape, a resident of Dar es Salaam, recounted that the accident occurred after the driver of the Baharia Bus Service they were travelling with refused to yield to the Saibaba Express driver, who had overtaken a truck.

"Our driver maintained his lane as the Saibaba Express driver had no alternative but to collide with the bus I was travelling on," he explained.

The regional police chief urged drivers to adhere to traffic rules and exercise caution during the rainy season as roads become perilous.