At least six people were killed in a fatal road collision involving a truck and a commercial vehicle in Pirang, West Coast Region, police have confirmed.
Several other passengers sustained serious injuries and have been taken to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in the country’s capital of Banjul.
Although investigations are still ongoing, police said the accident happened in the early hours of last Friday when a Mercedes Sprinter van index BJL 7516, traveling from Foni to Brikama tried to overtake another vehicle around a bend in Pirang.
In the process of overtaking, the van carrying over 20 passengers collided head-on with a truck, which was traveling from the opposite direction killing six people all natives of Foni,” a traffic police officer told Jollofnews.
“Several others suffered serious injuries and were hospitalised at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.”
Police have named the victims as Ismaila Badjie of Bajagar village, Fatou Njai of Somita village, Musa Jallow of Arangallen village, Hamadi Sabally of Bondali village and Anna Jarju Bajagar village,
The truck driver, Babucarr Mbye and Musa Gibba, who was driving the Mercedes van have been taken into custody and are currently helping the police with their investigations.
Gambian roads are becoming more and more dangerous with collisions claiming the lives of over a hundred people in the last two years.
The Gambia Police Force has urged drivers to desist from dangerous and reckless driving and to strictly adhere to the speed limit and road signs at areas out of police sight.
