Camer360

A fatal road accident on Cameroon’s National Road 5 (N5) left at least two people dead and several injured early Wednesday near Njombe, Moungo division. According to eyewitnesses and local officials, a General Voyages intercity bus traveling from the West region to Douala slammed into the rear of a stalled tanker truck believed to have been carrying palm oil. The collision occurred around 6 a.m. in low-light conditions.

Witnesses said the tanker had been abandoned on the carriageway for several days without adequate protection, creating a deadly obstacle. One eyewitness also raised the possibility that the bus driver may have succumbed to fatigue moments before impact. The provisional death toll stands at two—a moto-boy and a young woman—both reportedly seated in the bus cabin at the time of the crash. Dozens of passengers sustained injuries of varying severity and were evacuated to nearby facilities, including Saint-Jean de Malte Hospital in Njombe and the hospital in Koupé.

The crash caused a complete blockage of the corridor, triggering heavy traffic jams while security forces and road authorities worked to secure the scene and redirect vehicles. Given N5’s role as an economic artery linking production zones to the port city of Douala, delays were expected to persist until wreckage could be cleared and traffic restored.

An investigation has been opened to determine the exact chain of events—particularly why a fuel/palm-oil tanker remained immobilized on such a busy highway—and to assess any contributory factors, including driver fatigue, vehicle condition, and compliance with road-safety measures. Families of the victims and local residents are urging swift accountability and better enforcement of rules on immobilized heavy vehicles to prevent further tragedies.