Three people perished in Rwanda last Saturday after a taxi’s brakes failed and crashed. Divine Uwamaliya, one of the survivors, said they sensed there was a problem with the braking system after the driver failed to slow down at speed bumps in Musanze town.

In addition to the three dead, 8 people were left critically injured and were immediately sent to receive hospital treatment. The driver of the taxi was said to have fled the scene after the accident and Rwandian police have still not found him.

Superintendent Emmanuel Hitayezu, the Northern Province police spokesperson, said similar accidents have happened at the same spot before.

He said the driver could have prevented the accident if he had done mechanical tests before embarking on the journey. “Drivers should value the lives of passengers and drive carefully. They should also endeavor to service their vehicles,” Hitayezu said.