KARONGI - A family of five Canadian tourists and a Rwandan national on Thursday narrowly survived death when the car they were travelling in overturned in Musambira Sector, Kamonyi District.

They were heading to Akagera National Park from Karongi district where the family has built a residential house to spend holidays and vacations.

They were identified as Francois Deriere, Michael Deriere, Isabelle Deriere, Florien Deriere and Anita Deriere while the Rwandan is known as Christine Mukeshimana.

By press time, Isabelle, who sustained major injuries had been flown to Nairobi for further treatment while all the rest were being treated at Kigali Central hospital (CHUK).
Eye witnesses told The New Times yesterday that the Land Cruiser registration number RAA 316Y lost control and rolled off the road as the driver unsuccessfully tried to overtake a commuter taxi.

According to police, the accident could have been due to the driver’s inexperience and over speeding.

"It has been established that the driver was not used to driving long distances but we are suspicious that he could have been driving at high speed,” police said.

Cyprian Gahutu, the owner of the ill-fated vehicle expressed little hope of recovering the vehicle despite having insurance.

"I am saddened and I accept that there is nothing I could have done to avoid the accident but I doubt that the insurance will do anything to help me,” he said.

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