At least 19 killed in Senegal road accident

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – At least 19 people were killed and 24 injured after a bus they were travelling in rammed into a transport truck while trying to avoid hitting a donkey Monday morning in Senegal’s north-west Louga region, authorities said.

The head-on collision between a bus and a transport truck occurred at around 5 a.m. local time in Sakal.

“It also seems that the bus tried to avoid hitting a donkey, which caused the accident,” Land Transport Minister Mansour Faye told reporters.

The accident took place days after another fatal accident involving two buses, which left 42 dead in the Kaffrine region, central Senegal on Jan. 8.

“Yet another fatal accident on our roads near Ngeun Sarr. 19 human lives lost and 24 injured. This highlights the need to strengthen road safety measures,” Senegalese President Macky Sall said in a tweet following the early morning accident.

Sall extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The victims were reportedly from attending a weekend family ceremony.

Local media reports attribute traffic accidents in the West African nation to poor roads and reckless drivers not adhering to the rules.