Police incompetence blamed for worst Swazi crash

MBABANE – A Commission of Enquiry into one of Swaziland’s worst traffic accidents has blamed police incompetence for the April 29, 2014 disaster. “There was gross inefficiency on the part of the Mbabane Police Traffic Department in that they failed to use effective signalling in spite of poor visibility and high traffic density,” said the commission’s report released last week. An overturned truck caused a back-up of traffic along Mbabane’s only access by road to and from the east. Although the accident occurred during the height of the evening rush hour, only one police constable was dispatched to the scene. Because of the steep switchback descent of the road that makes driving on Malagwane Hill perilous at all times, no traffic cones or people to signal a problem ahead for arriving vehicles were put in place. The driver of a large second truck was caught by surprise after making a sharp turn and encountering stopped traffic. He was unable to slow his vehicle, which drove into the queue. 30 vehicles were destroyed by impact or fire, three people including the driver of the second truck were killed and 21 people were injured. The commission found the driver of the first truck had been sleep deprived and hungry, and his truck’s braking system was faulty. In a “self-serving effort inspired by inexperience and panic,” according to the report, the driver jumped from the truck cab after slowing the vehicle. The truck overturned on the highway median, blocking both sides of the route with 36 tonnes of spilt iron ore. The report also faulted the fire department for prematurely leaving after the first truck overturned, resulting in an absence of emergency vehicles when the second truck created another accident which caused chaotic conditions that blocked emergency vehicle access to the site. The Nissan UD Combination Truck that initially blocked the highway was contracted to Salgaocar Swaziland (Ltd), which has since been liquidated. The unroadworthy truck was operated by a firm trading as “Take a Chance.”