One Rwandan passed away while seven people, including one Burundian, were injured, in a van wreck in Bedford, Texas early Sunday morning local time. The injured, some critically, are admitted at different hospitals. The driver, who was arrested at the scene of the accident for being reportedly intoxicated, escaped with only minor injuries. According to sources in the US, the deceased has been identified as Lynker Kabera, a student at Briar Cliff University, Iowa. The others involved are: Sandra Ineza Niyibizi, 21, a senior in a college in Maryland, who is reportedly in a coma; Marie Blanche Gahozo, a graduate of Buena Vista University (BVU); Cedric Somayire, 27, a student in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ornella Mugabo, 22, a BVU graduate. The Burundian national has been identified as Bob Masunzu, 24. The identity of seventh victim is yet to be established by The New Times. According to one of the parents of the injured Rwandans, the victims were coming from a graduation ceremony on Saturday. “They had decided to hire a van owned by a local Rwandan businessman, who then offered to chauffeur them to and from the event. Following the graduation ceremony a party was held at the home of the graduate’s parents. The driver drank a lot of alcohol at this party”, said the parent. According to Bedford police spokesman Lt. David Smith, the driver apparently lost control while the van was on the TEXpress lanes of Highway 183 near Central Drive. The van rolled over ejecting the nine people inside. Lt. Smith says the van caught fire after the wreck. Two medical helicopters took patients to hospitals in Fort Worth, six other patients were taken to area hospitals by ground ambulance. Lt. Smith says the driver of the van was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated. Smith says investigators will review the case today and consider additional charges against the driver. The accident remains under investigation.
