Three people lost their lives and five others were injured after a heavy truck (HOWO) crashed into a roadside building housing a retail shop in Kigoma Sector, Nyanza District, on Thursday evening, July 30, 2026.
According to local authorities, the truck was traveling from Ruhango toward Nyanza when it reportedly left the road near Gasoro. It collided with a Toyota Vigo coming from the opposite direction before plowing into the shop, destroying part of the building and trapping customers inside. Emergency responders, including ambulances and rescue teams, worked late into the night to evacuate the victims. A crane was later used to remove the truck and recover the body of a woman trapped beneath it.
Jean Baptiste Habineza, the Executive Secretary of Kigoma Sector, confirmed that three people died in the crash while five others, including the truck driver, sustained injuries. The injured were taken to CHUB Hospital in Huye for treatment. Although the Toyota Vigo was damaged in the collision, its occupants escaped without injuries.
The accident also caused significant damage to the shop and its contents. Among those who died were two women and a four-year-old boy. Residents say a damaged section of the road may have contributed to the crash, noting that drivers often swerve to avoid a large pothole at the scene. They have called on the relevant authorities to repair the road to help prevent similar accidents.
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