Two students of Midland High School, 24 others injured in road accident
- Written by URN
The accident scene
Two students of Midland High School in Kaberamaido district have died while 24 others have been admitted to Soroti hospital following a Thursday accident.
Susan Alwedo and Peterson Ekimu died on the spot after the bus, registration number UG 1915E which they had hired from Busitema University-Arapai Campus, rammed into a stationary trailer, UBL 709T/UQ781C from behind. The bus was carrying 64 students in total at the time of the accident.
According to records at Sorot hospital, 24 out of 31 students who were injured in the accident survived with broken bones. Dr Athanasius Ariengu, the in-charge of the emergency unit at Soroti hospital says that some of the injured students have undergone operations and others were subjected to different scans to establish internal injuries.
Information at the hospital indicates that the director of the school, Nathan Egaru, and two teachers Hannington Enangu and Juventine Eleru, also sustained injuries. One of the teachers found at the hospital told URN that the students were scheduled to visit Masese, Nytil Textiles, and the source of the River Nile.
According to the teacher, the accident occurred when the driver of the bus tried to avoid a head-on collision with another speeding car heading to Soroti city.
“We had three vehicles hired to take our students for the study tour in Jinja. The coaster was ahead, followed by the Busitema bus and a taxi. The driver of the bus was trying to catch up with the coaster when suddenly, another car approached. He didn’t seem to see the parked trailer that had developed a mechanical fault,” he said.
A statement by the Busitema University Directorate of Institutional Advancement said that the university is waiting for the police report.
“We regret to announce this incident and sympathize with the families of the deceased. A detailed report will be issued accordingly in due course,” the press statement signed by the assistant director D.I.A, Dr. Charles Muweesi reads in part.