Kafuta Truck Tragedy Claims Four Lives, Injuring Over 40 Others
Truck which struck celebrants at Kafuta © SSM
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
An avoidable tragedy struck in the evening of Saturday, 4th January 2025, claiming the lives of at least four and injuring over 40 others after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a crowd of jubilant football revelers, turning a victory celebration into a mournful occasion.
Since then, community members of the Kafuta are appealing to the government to erect speed humps, commonly referred to as sleeping police, on their roads to reduce vehicle speeds and road traffic accidents in that area.
Neighbors in the vicinity where the tragedy occurred informed Askanwi that victims who suffered critical injuries were referred to Ndemban Clinic, while others who suffered less severe injuries were admitted to the Brikama Health Center and discharged. The Gambia Police Force issued a statement highlighting that 24 were admitted at Ndeman Clinic.
Speaking to Askanwi, a neighbor who witnessed the scene confirmed that the incident happened at around 6 to 7pm in the evening of Saturday, 4th January 2025.
One neighbor who witnessed the scene told our reporter that "the accident involved mostly young girls and small children who continued to celebrate their football match victory. By then, most of the players had gone home. It was at this time that the truck driver lost control and left the road, plunging into the crowd, killing at least three and injuring a host of individuals.”
“One of the victims was stuck under the truck, so we had to jack the truck to remove her from under the vehicle, but she suffered from a broken face and limb and subsequently passed away on Sunday," explained the witness.
Abubacarr Demba, the father of the now deceased Mariama Demba, informed Askanwi that he was in Pirang attending a naming ceremony when he received a phone call informing him of the tragic accident involving his daughter. "She did not die on the day of the incident, but rather the following day, on Sunday, I can affirm that only three people died from the accident in our community here," but nonetheless the police report has indicated the death of four people.
The Police statement “confirmed fatalities has increased to four (4)” from their last update and that the driver was to be arraigned in court on Monday.
Accordingly to another neighbor named Ebrima Gitteh, "one of the drummers who was hired on the day of the football match was in a very critical condition with a broken hip; I believe he might have been the fourth person added to the list of the three individuals who reportedly died.”
The alleged driver of the truck, one Mamudou Sallah, a 30-year-old male, is currently remanded at the country’s Mile 2 Prison pending his appearance at the High Court.
After visiting the victims of the Kafuta accident on Tuesday, 7th January 2024, at the Ndemban clinic, the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) issued a statement calling on the government to review how the Police manage traffic, the functions of police checkpoints, and the quality of roads and vehicles that ply the roads in the country.
Their presser highlighted that the EFSTH "met and discussed with members of the Kafuta community overseeing the victims there. We have established that overall, 67 casualties suffered in the accident, and already three persons have died. Currently, 19 patients are at Ndemban receiving various medical treatments. We have noticed several young boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 16 with various injuries to their legs, arms, neck, eyes, and across the body.”
