Over 50 seriously injured in Onatracom accident

KAMONYI – Over 50 people were yesterday seriously injured when the Onatracom bus they were traveling in lost control and swerved off the road along the Kigali-Butare highway. According to Police, the accident took place at Musambira trading center in the wee hours of the morning. There were 62 passengers aboard the Cyangugu bound bus. They were rescued by SAMU ambulance services, residents and Police who rushed to the scene shortly after the accident. By press time, the injured had been admitted at Kabgayi Hospital, some in critical condition. “Most passengers have sustained broken limbs, deep cuts and one woman has sustained serious brain injuries,” said Dr. Alphonse Niyodusenga. “We are handling the cases to the best of our capabilities. The complicated cases will be transferred to Kigali.” Eye witnesses attributed the accident to over speeding. They said the driver bumped into a Police patrol vehicle and suddenly braked which could have led to the accident. “The driver was over speeding and when he saw a Police vehicle he tried to brake instantly. This led to the accident,” Manuel Ugirimpuhwe, one of the passengers stated. A similar incident involving an Onatracom bus occured on June 28, 2009 in which 26 passengers were seriously injured at Nyange trading center- along the Kibuye highway. Ends