The crash occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time at the Sekenke escarpment along the Singida-Nzega highway in Iramba District. The police vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, was transporting eight detainees from Shelui Police Station to Kiomboi District Court for a scheduled court appearance when it was struck by the tanker.
What Happened
The fuel tanker, which was carrying diesel from Dar es Salaam to Rwanda, experienced brake failure while descending the steep Sekenke escarpment. According to Singida Regional Police Commander SACP Amon Kakwale, the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle, which crossed into the opposite lane and collided with the police vehicle. Both vehicles plunged into a ditch following the impact.
"The collision occurred while the vehicles were at the steep escarpment before crashing head-on, causing both to plunge into a ditch," Kakwale said.
Iramba District Commissioner Suleiman Mwenda confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated brake failure was the cause of the accident.
The Victims
Five police officers and seven detainees died in the crash. The deceased officers were identified as Shelui Police Station Officer-in-Charge SP Frank Lazima Mwasapili, Staff Sergeant Ussi Hassan, Sergeant Paulo Silivin Gabriel, Police Constable Ashraf Salumu Kheri and Police Constable Nangida Ramadhani Mushi.
The seven deceased detainees were Timotheo Lazaro Kimaro, Cassian Hassan, Fred Musuguli Mzoa, Wilfred Marko Amos, Mariam Hamis Kasijao, Vivian Saidi and Hussen Hussein Kea.
Two people survived the crash: the tanker driver, identified as Ndanarasa Christian Alfonse, a Rwandan national, and one detainee, Petro Organes Nkana. Both were receiving treatment at Kiomboi Hospital.
The bodies of the victims were transferred to Mandewa Regional Referral Hospital in Singida.
A Dangerous Stretch of Road
The Sekenke escarpment has a history of frequent traffic accidents, and the Singida Regional Commissioner, Halima Dendego, announced that the government has formulated plans to construct additional lanes along the Sekenke Hill section to mitigate risks and enhance road safety.
"Government has formulated plans to construct additional lanes along the Sekenke Hill section, which has a history of frequent traffic accidents," Dendego said.
SACP Kakwale urged motorists to observe traffic safety regulations and exercise extra caution when driving on steep sections of the road to help prevent further loss of life.
Tanzania's Road Safety Challenge
The accident highlights the persistent challenge of road safety in Tanzania. Between July 2025 and April 2026, a total of 1,066 people died in road accidents in the country, down 16.4 percent from 1,275 deaths recorded during the same period the previous year. Injuries also dropped by 18 percent, from 2,278 to 1,869 during the review period.
Home Affairs Minister Paschal Katambi Patrobass attributed the improvement to intensified road safety enforcement measures, including patrols on major roads nationwide. Authorities penalized approximately 3 million drivers for violating road safety regulations, including issuing warnings, imposing fines, prosecuting offenders and suspending driving licenses.
However, the burden of road crashes on the health system remains severe. According to Muhimbili Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Institute, road traffic accidents account for between 60 and 62 percent of admissions, with motorcycle accidents contributing about 41 percent of trauma cases.
"This trend remained a major public health concern," said Dr Joel Bwemelo, MOI's Head of Research Unit, noting that the institute's emergency unit receives about 8,000 patients, of whom nearly two-thirds are victims of road crashes.
The crash in Singida is one of the deadliest single road accidents in Tanzania in 2026, following a collision in Bahi District in August that killed eight people and injured 66 others.
With reporting from Daily News Tanzania, Mwananchi, China.org.cn, The Citizen and CCTV.
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