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Gambia News : Tragedy Strikes APRC Campaign Trail in WR

At least 10 people have been confirmed killed and 8 wounded in a serious accident when a truck veered into a crowd of APRC supporters forming part of a campaign trail in the Kombo East district of Western Region on Sunday.

The victims include three children, Adama Camara, Fatou Camara, and Malang Camara all of the same father and mother.

Eyewitnesses said that the victims were trying to cross the main road between Serrekundanding and Kembujeh when a truck believed to have faulty brakes ran into them killing 8 people on the spot while two others were later pronounced dead at the RVTH in Banjul. Five people are reported to be in critical condition, while 2 were treated and discharged.

Speaking to GRTS radio earlier on, the police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Sulayman Secka, told that in all 16 people were involved in the accident, of whom eight died on the spot while two passed away at the RVTH and six more were in critical condition in hospital at the Intensive Care Unit. According PRO Secka, those who died included six female and four male, among them a nine-year-old.

For his part the officer in charge of the accident, Corporal Musa Njie of Brikama annex, said that on approaching the crowd, the driver of the fire wood-laden truck applied his brake but it failed to hold and, as he tried to swerve to the right to avoid the crowd, he could not due to the speed that vehicle was moving at, consequently running into the crowd of people.

Meanwhile the driver, Alagie Badjie, has since been arrested and charged with rash and negligent driving. The matter was mentioned yesterday at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

However Magistrate Kayoidy, who presided over the case, ordered that the case be transferred to Brikama in Western Region on the grounds that it is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case.

At the time of writing this story, this paper received reports that one of the deceased, Amie Sowe, was discovered to be pregnant with two babies, which have since been removed by means of operation and placed in an incubator.