Road accidents are most common on African roads. Sometimes they occur because of poor roads, climatic conditions, unroadworthy vehicles, and more so, reckless driving. Many have lost their lives, sustained severe injuries, and even lost their hassle amid these accidents. Authorities have made documentaries warning people against irresponsible driving that may cause an accident. But not many have responded positively to such displays. Just recently, two vehicles in Cameroon got in a head-on collision, leaving tremendous damage.
The Accident
Around 3:30 a.m., a bus collided with a truck in Santchou village in Cameroon’s western region. The incident, which happened within a blink, left 53 passengers dead and also wounded 29 severely. According to witnesses, a fuel transporting truck was speeding when it ran into a 70 -seater vehicle carrying passengers from the coastal commercial city of Douala Bafoussam. The bus and truck’s head-on collision ignited uncontrollable flames, ravaging the bus and its passengers.
The flames were humongous, making it difficult for the victims to survive. Those who had managed to escape death sure sustained severe burns. The incident disrupted the better part of the dawn as scores of people rushed to see the incident, with the majority coming to confirm if their relatives were part of the accident.
Often, such incidents occur in the country. That’s because road accidents are common in the country. And the government blames the majority of these accidents on reckless drivers and the poor state of vehicles. However, the drivers also blame the government for not repairing the roads. There is a whole lot of blame game that consumes hundreds of people day in day out.
Almost a similar incident happened last year in December when 37 people succumbed following a head-on collision accident. I.e., their bus smashed into a truck and rolled down a ravine.
Peoples Reactions to the Incident
The unprecedented accident sparked mixed reactions from locals, authorities, and the country at large. The area governor, Awa Fonka Augustine, stated that the accident’s causes were not exact, though the truck was illegally transporting the fuel. He also noted that the Red Cross response was swift, and the 29 were already rushed to the hospitals.
“A speeding truck illegally transporting fuel ran into the 70 seat vehicle transporting people from the coastal commercial metropolis of Douala to Bafoussam, the capital of Cameroon’s West region, ” Augustine said. “A crash between the truck and the bus sparked an uncontrollable fire which engulfed both the bus and its occupants.”
The incident sparked worry among the residents who were neighboring the region. A fifty-four-year-old business man narrates how tragic the incident was. He says the victims who caught fire were burnt beyond recognition. Mr. Honore Nzali says it was impossible to recognize the corpses.
What is Cameroon doing to limit Road Accidents?
Yearly, Cameroon records up to 16583 road accidents, out of which over 1000 people die. The country has come up with different measures to try to control the accidents. These measures include increased user awareness, monitoring, control, and enforcement activities. However, the government is looking forward to redoubling its efforts to improve the road safety situation.
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