Police have identified the two victims of the fuel tanker that rammed plunged into River Nile's roaring falls at Karuma bridge.
Alex Ogwal, 35, the driver of the fateful truck also a resident of Lira city, and a 21-year old pump attendant - all attached to Shine Energy fuel station plunged into the river yesterday Saturday afternoon after their vehicle's braking system failed.
According to Jimmy Patrick Okema, the police public relations officer for the Aswa River region the duo was returning from Lira to Kampala after delivering fuel at Masindi port.
The accident along the Gulu-Kampala highway is only the latest of a series of fatalities at the six-decade-old bridge that was constructed in the 1960s.
Eyewitnesses say the lorry, registration no. UAS 337M failed to break and sped past uncontrollably to speed past a security checkpoint at the Karuma-Arua City T-junction through the steep slopes at the bridge.
Search efforts by the integrated highway police and marine divers have been futile due to the high volumes of the roaring waters and poor equipment.
Notable past accidents at Karuma
• In 2000, a bus belonging to Gateway Transporters plunged into the River, and all 11 occupants perished.
• In Feb 2017, a cargo truck UAP 531Sfrom DRC plunged into Karuma. Occupant, Nelson Eric survived the nasty incident.
• In June 2018 Fuso truck, UAS 994Y veered off the bridge. One person was swept away by the rapid falls.
• In August 2007, a Nebbi bound tipper lorry registration number UAE 037D carrying 12 people, lost control and plunged into the fall. A vendor died while 11 people jumped off and sustained severe injuries.
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