Oil tanker in two accidents mayhem Tanzania

Eleven people died and 44 others wounded, many seriously, at a fatal road accident that occurred early Friday morning in Dakawa- Veta, Dumila ward along the Morogoro – Dodoma highway.

“The registration number of the oil tanker could not easily be known as the collision caused explosion that burnt five out of eleven victims beyond recognition.

The Fuso was registered as T 963BLW, travelling from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam. Preliminary investigations indicate that a Noah type van that stopped abruptly and the Fuso driver attempted to by-pass it only to face the fuel tanker coming ahead. The drivers are among the dead. Survivors were taken to Morogoro hospital for medical attention,” RPC Matei explained.

According to eye witness Japhet Sulemani who is a bodaboda service provider, the Noah van that stopped abruptly for passengers to disembark caused the mayhem.

The commander said after a few hours another accident occurred at the same spot whereby a passenger bus (T 201DGK) from Bukoba smashed into the wreckage of the burnt lorry killing the driver, his assistant and the bus conductor.

Some of the dead were identified as Yassin Omary Mgongolwa (41), Veronica Jeremia, Said Shomari Simba (30), Lilian Paul (34), Jonia Kokumbuga and a woman aged between 30 -35 years, a bus passenger. The bodies were being preserved at the Morogoro hospital mortuary.

The Regional Commissioner of Morogoro, Dr Kebwe Stephen Kebwe visited the scene of accident promptly, reminding drivers and all road users of their obligation to adhere to road safety regulations. He said a DNA identification method would be employed for identification of the charred bodies.

He directed TANROADS to do the needful to ensure that the oil spill on the road was removed to prevent another accident due to the slippery surface.