Two lives were lost, and 49 were injured in a fatal collision along the Mbouda-Dschang road on Tuesday night, October 29. A 70-seater bus from Amour Mezam was travelling towards Cameroon’s Southwest Region when it collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck loaded with cement and headed for Bamenda. The deadly road accident occurred near Moyang in Bamekoua’a village, not far from the Bangang market, with officials attributing the crash to brake failure in the truck, which forced it into oncoming traffic.
Local witnesses described a scene of devastation. “At about 10 p.m., we heard a loud noise, and before we realised, the trailer was already in our lane,” one survivor recounted. The collision left the vehicles in a distressed state, underscoring the impact’s severity.
Witnesses recount a chaotic scene following the crash. “The impact was intense; people were thrown from their seats,” said a nearby resident who assisted in rescue efforts. Another passenger, visibly shaken, shared, “It happened so quickly… there was no time to react.”
Chief Warrant Officer Enguene Jean Baptiste of the Batcham gendarmerie brigade confirmed the scale of the tragedy: “We recorded 49 injured, with 18 in critical condition and five transported to Bafoussam.” The two fatalities were taken to the Mbouda hospital morgue, while other survivors remain under intensive care at nearby health centers.
The Mbouda-Dschang road section, which is under construction to improve regional connectivity, has seen frequent accidents, raising urgent questions about road safety and vehicle maintenance on Cameroon’s main highways. Transport officials urge vigilance and better adherence to safety measures to protect lives on these high-risk routes.
This incident comes at a time when the conditions of Cameroon’s roads are being questioned. Also road safety regulations and stricter vehicle maintenance to prevent future tragedies on Cameroon’s roads.
