By Johnson Kanyesige
Three people have been killed and 11 others injured in a road crash involving a commuter taxi and a trailer at Kakira Junction along the Jinja-Iganga Highway, with police attributing the crash to suspected reckless driving.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday when a commuter taxi, registration number UA 130 CY, collided with an unidentified trailer. The three victims died on the spot, while 11 injured passengers were rushed to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
Hospital sources indicate that seven of the survivors are in critical condition after sustaining severe head injuries, while the others are reported to be in stable condition.
Steven Balaza, a motorcyclist who responded to the scene, said he joined other rescuers and security personnel to retrieve victims who remained trapped inside the wreckage for more than 10 minutes.
Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi confirmed the crash, saying the bodies of the deceased had been taken to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Mubi said police preliminary investigations point to reckless driving as the likely cause of the crash, although traffic investigators are still finalizing their inquiries before releasing a comprehensive report.
