At least 20 children & one teacher dead after school bus hits huge rock and crashes on notoriously dangerous road

AT LEAST 20 children have died after a school bus veered off a notoriously dangerous road and overturned in a horror crash. The school’s founder also lost his life with 60 others injured as the driver reportedly hit a huge rock after losing control of the vehicle. At least 20 children have died after a school bus veered off a notoriously dangerous road and overturned in a horror crash Credit: X/@PoliceUg/ Uganda Police Force Emergency responders and loals inspect the overturned bus Credit: UBC The students were heading home from Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District, Uganda after a school trip, according to preliminary investigations. Witnesses said the bus appeared to suffer a mechanical fault at around about 8pm local time on Thursday which left the driver veering off the Chekwatit Village road. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The bus then struck a large rock along the roadside and overturned, Ugandan police said. Cops, residents and emergency responders all rushed to the scene and found dozens of people had been thrown out of the vehicle. Several others were still trapped inside the mangled wreckage and had to be pulled out and rushed to three local hospital for emergency medical care. Three other adult males were left with serious injuries as well as several children, cops confirmed. A Ugandan police chief said: “We wish to confirm that, following the fatal road traffic crash that occurred yesterday evening at Chekwatit Village, a total of 21 people, comprising 20 pupils and one adult, have so far been confirmed dead. “The crash involved an Isuzu bus, registration number UA 108BQ, belonging to King David Junior School, Ndejje, Makindye Division, Kampala. Most read in The Sun “The Uganda Police Force extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the management of King David Junior School, and all those affected by this tragic incident. “We also wish the injured a quick and full recovery.” Minister of Local Government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, confirmed the identity of the man who died was the school’s founder and director Tadeo Ssekade. The driver or any of the children are yet to be identified. Police investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing. Kapchorwa Resident District Commissioner Stanley Bayole praised the community’s response to the crash. He said: “The response from the community has been overwhelming. “People brought bedding, offered transport and joined rescue efforts without hesitation. “This is a strong sign of humanity and solidarity during a very difficult moment.” Chekwatit Hill is widely regarded as one of Uganda’s leading accident black spots, with a tragic history of fatal crashes. The crash is among the deadliest road accidents involving school children in Uganda recent years. Just a week ago, a student and teacher were killed after a bus transporting learners collided with a train in Mukono District. Police confirmed another 14 people were killed in a head-on collision involving a bus and a trailer along the Kampala-Gulu Highway earlier this month. Comment now