Scene of the accident
By Buba Gagigo
A tragic accident occurring between Jarra Bureng and Sinchu on March 6, 2024, has resulted in the loss of six lives, leaving a community reeling in grief.
Reports indicate that the incident, transpiring between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM, involved two vehicles: a commuter Gele-gele van bearing license plate WCR 3461C, driven by a thirty-seven-year-old from Basse, and a truck registered as BJL 5831P, driven by a 35-year-old from Bansang. The truck, traveling from Bureng towards Basse, veered from its lane, colliding with the oncoming Gele-gele van, which was en route from Soma.
Among the twenty-six passengers aboard the van, four were tragically pronounced dead upon arrival at Bureng Health Center. Two more succumbed to their injuries while receiving medical attention, with five individuals transferred to Banjul, and three to Farafenni. Eight others were directed to Soma, though four of these were discharged after treatment. The driver of the truck has been detained pending further investigation, while the injured from the Gele-gele van remain hospitalized. The deceased have been transported to Banjul for postmortem examinations.
This harrowing incident marks the second such accident in Jarra within a fortnight, amplifying concerns over road safety in the region.