17 People Died in Car Crash in West Arsi Zone
ADDIS ABABA – A bus rollover crash has killed 17 passengers in west Arsi zone of Oromia regional state, according to the police.
The accident occurred on Saturday morning around 10:30 a.m. local time.
The public bus, heading from Robe to Shashemene town, overturned and rolled off a cliff in Adaba District, the police office of the West Arsi Zone told a state-broadcaster OBN.
Fourteen people were pronounced deceased at the scene. The other three died on the way to hospital.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident. Preliminary results point to driving beyond speed limit as main reason for the crash, said Commander Abdurashid Wayo, head of the Addaba district Police Office.
The deadly crash happened days after another deadly car crash, involving a min bust, killed at least six people in Addis Ababa. Two students were among the victims.
Reports say road traffic accidents are the main cause for most injury related deaths in Ethiopia.
Drivers’ and pedestrians’ lack of awareness, poor technical inspections of vehicles and older vehicles are among the reasons often blamed for the accidents.
