ADDIS ABABA – A traffic accident involving a minbus and an excavator claimed the lives of at least six people in Addis Ababa on Monday, according to a police report.
The deadly accident occurred in the morning of August 24 when a bucket of the excavator fell on a moving minibus taxi in Bole Subcity of Ethiopia’s capital.
Six passengers were killed in the accident, the Addis Ababa Police said in a statement issued Monday.
The driver and several other passengers aboard the minibus also sustained serious or minor injuries.
They were taken to nearby health facilities for medical treatment, said the Police, who have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The incident is among a series of deadly traffic accidents in the East African nation, which are often linked to reckless driving, weak law enforcement, poor vehicle conditions and other factors.
With vehicle numbers rising alongside the country’s growing economy and expanding middle class, experts call for stricter safety enforcement, thorough vehicle inspections, and a more rigorous licensing system to prevent future tragedies.
— EM, news agencies
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