NYAMASHEKE – A truck registration number ZB 3998 that lost control and hit a minibus in Gisakura sector, Nyamasheke district on Tuesday, killed two people on the spot and injured 11 others, leaving residents in shock.

The taxi had parked on the roadside, loading passengers to Nyamagabe, while the truck was heading to Rusizi border from Kenya.

The deceased were identified as Martin Hategekimana, a doctor at Gihundwe Hospital in Rusizi and Sixte Simbizi, a driver at Gisakura Tea Factory also in Rusizi.

Nine of the injured were rushed to Bushenge Hospital while two of them who sustained severe injuries were transferred to Butare Hospital.

"We are transferring two others, to Butare Hospital for further attention. The remaining seven have injuries which we will be able to handle,” said Doctor Alfred Twagiramungu, the director of Bushenge Hospital.

Twagiramungu said that the seven were out of danger.
The accident was blamed on the truck’s poor braking system.

"The truck driver told the police that the vehicle lost control after the brakes failed causing it to ram into the minibus,” said Jean Marie Rurangirwa, the Nyamasheke district Police officer.

Rurangirwa added that the sharp corners coupled with the slanting nature of the road could also have partially caused the accident.

According to Rurangirwa, there is a possibility that the Kenyan truck driver, who only sustained minor injuries on the head was not familiar with the road stretch.

Eloi Munyankindi, the Executive Secretary of Bushekeri, a neighboring sector to Gisakura, said accidents are common in this spot because of the nature of that particular road stretch.

"Traffic police should put speed humps on this particular stretch. We have actually made this request so we are hopeful that something will be done to rectify the situation,” said Munyankindi.

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