NAIROBI: Fifteen people died and 13 were injured when a truck carrying potatoes crashed into five vehicles in the southern Tanzanian town of Mbeya, a hospital official said Saturday. The truck was driving down a steep hill when the accident happened on Friday night, according to a statement from the presidency. Petro Seme, a doctor and supervisor at the Mbeya hospital, said 13 bodies had arrived at the morgue on Friday night, and two of the injured had later died. “We regret that in total fifteen people have died,” he told AFP, adding that of 13 other injured, two were in a critical condition. The presidency had earlier put the death toll at 11. “Yet again we have lost fellow citizens in a road accident, while others are injured. I am deeply saddened,” President John Magufuli was quoted as saying in the statement. Road accidents in Tanzania are common, often due to speeding, overloading of vehicles, poor road and vehicle conditions, but also lax road safety enforcement by police. In March, 24 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck, while the following month a similar accident left 12 dead and 46 injured. Last Sunday five people, including two tourists from Spain and two from Italy were killed in accident in the north of the country. </s> Twelve people were killed and 46 injured in a crash between a bus and a truck in northern Tanzania, traffic police said.

The accident happened late on Wednesday evening in Makomero in Tabora province.

"A total of 12 people were killed, 10 at the scene and two while being evacuated to hospital," traffic police said, adding that 46 people were injured.

The truck, which was transporting potatoes, is believed to have crashed into the bus.

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Fifteen people died and 13 were injured when a truck carrying potatoes crashed into five vehicles in the southern Tanzanian town of Mbeya.

The truck was driving down a steep hill when the accident happened on Friday night.

"Yet again we have lost fellow citizens in a road accident, while others are injured. I am deeply saddened," President John Magufuli was quoted as saying in the statement.

“We received 13 deceased who died on the spot and two others lost their lives while receiving treatment. Two more victims are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” said Dr Petro Seme at the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital.

He said four victims have been discharged while several others continue to receive treatment.

According to the police, the accident involved two petroleum tankers, two trucks and a minibus.

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Road accidents in Tanzania are common, often due to speeding, overloading of vehicles, poor road and vehicle conditions, but also lax road safety enforcement by police.

In March, 24 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck, while the following month a similar accident left 12 dead and 46 injured. </s> Twelve people were killed and 46 injured in a crash between a bus and a truck in northern Tanzania, traffic police said.

The accident happened late Wednesday evening in Makomero in Tabora province.

"A total of 12 people were killed, 10 at the scene and two while being evacuated to hospital," traffic police said, adding that 46 people were injured.

The truck, which was transporting potatoes, is believed to have crashed into the bus.
15 people died and 13 were injured when a truck carrying potatoes crashed into five vehicles in Mbeya, Tanzania.