Soldier killed as Hood bus, army lorry in collision

A member of the Tanzania People`s Defense Forces (TPDF), Cpl Mohamed Chikoko, died on the spot while 45 other passengers were injured in a road accident.

In what has now become common road carnage, a passenger bus belonging to Hood Transport Company overturned and rolled over near Mwendapole area in Kibaha District, Coast Region on Sunday evening.

According to Coast Regional Police Commander, Henry Salewi, survivors of the accident include six other army officers who were heading to Morogoro in a lorry, the property of the army.

He said the survivors were rushed to Tumbi Designated Hospital for medical attention while the body of the deceased soldier, Chikoko has been preserved at the same hospital.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the accident, the police commander said both vehicles were heading for Morogoro when the passenger bus with registration number, T 460 AAZ driven by Mohamed Waziri Nyundo, resident of Manzese in Dar es Salaam, pushed aside the military truck, which also overturned.

The army truck with registration number 5219 JW 95 was driven by Sergeant Juma Hassan who also narrowly escaped death.

Majority of the survivors received treatment at the hospital and were discharged with the exception of 15 people, six of them soldiers who are still undergoing treatment.

The bus driver, Mohamed Nyundo, has been put under arrestand will appear in court after completion of police investigations.

Commander Salewi named soldiers admitted at the hospital as MT 56723 Sergeant Juma Hassan, MT 37633 Corporal Athumani Ulaya (40), MT 58575 Cpl Paschal Mtungi (44), MT40170 Sergeant Kisonga Maulid (42), MT 29105 Sergeant Benjamin Fusi (50) and MT 68210 Cpl Ally Salum (36).

Other casualties who were bus passengers and still recovering at the hospital are Hamza Majaliwa (47), Hadija Shaaban (45) both from Mlali in Morogoro Region, Jema Mganga (65) from Manzese, Dar es Salaam, Shida Kibandula (35), John Joseph (27) both from Mzumbe in Morogoro Region.

Salewi said other casualties are Mwajuma Fuko (60), Joseph Nyasi (37), Halima Shaaban (39) of Morogoro Region and William Jacob of Maili Moja Kibaha in the district.

The driver of Hood bus is said to have tried to overtake the lorry, when he suddenly realised that there was another passenger bus, Aboud Bus Service, coming ahead.

As he tried to avoid a head-on collision, his bus pushed the lorry on the turf, killing one of its occupants instantly.