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.”