More than 29 people, including a child, died when two long-distance passenger buses belonging to City Boy Company collided head on at Maweni village in Manyoni District, Singida Region.
Singida Regional Police Commander Thobias Sedoyeka told the ‘Daily News’ that the accident, which left other passengers injured, some of them critically, took at around 3pm yesterday.
The injured were rushed to hospitals in Dodoma and Bahi. Mr Sedoyeka said one of the buses, a ‘Scania’ with registration number T531 DCE, was coming from Dar es Salaam on its way to Kahama while the other bus, of the same make with T247 DCD, heading to Dar es Salaam from Kahama, whereby the buses collided at Maweni Village.
According to the RPC, passenger and eye witness accounts, the drivers of the two buses lost control while trying to greet each other.
A total of 29 passengers aboard both buses died on the spot while the number of those injured was still unknown because they were immediately removed and rushed to different hospitals.
Meanwhile, President John Magufuli has sent a message of condolences to Singida Regional Commissioner, Engineer Mathew Mtigumwe, following the deaths of the 29 passengers.
A statement to the media from the State House yesterday noted that President Magufuli sent his condolences to the family, relatives and friends through the RC, expressing his sadness and sorrow following the deaths.
“I have received with great shock and sadness, news of the accident that caused the deaths of so many passengers. The government joins families to mourn the loss of their beloved ones.
I am praying for strength to the families and for the deceased to rest in peace,” Dr Magufuli added, noting that he is also praying for the speedy recovery of all those who sustained injuries in the accident.
The accident occurred a day after another marine accident in Ruvuma Region in which at least 9 people were feared died after an overloaded boat capsized in the Ruvuma River on Sunday night.
It also occurred a few days after 12 people were killed and 44 others injured in two road accidents that occurred along the Morogoro-Dar es Salaam Highway at Dakawa-VETA area in Morogoro last Friday.