Students who survived Friday evening’s Nalango Senior Secondary School bus crash along the Jinja–Kamuli road have recounted the moments leading up to the accident, alleging that the driver had been speeding and was distracted after some learners mocked him.The crash occurred at Busota trading centre as the students were returning from an educational trip. A report by the Kamuli emergency medical team indicates that 47 people were injured, including 31 students and 16 adults. All the casualties were admitted to Kamuli General Hospital, where most are reportedly responding well to treatment.One of the injured students, Jalia Babirye, said the bus driver had earlier been stopped by traffic police over alleged speeding and instructed to park for an hour before continuing with the journey.According to Babirye, the driver resumed travelling at high speed after the stop, prompting some students to taunt him by singing teasing songs.“We were being driven at a very high speed. The students kept mocking the driver with songs, and I remember he exchanged bitter words with some of them about five minutes before the accident. I think that may have distracted him before the vehicle rammed into a stationary truck,” she said.Babirye, who sustained bruises on her back, said her condition has improved and she hopes to be discharged soon.Another survivor, Fatuma Naiwumbwe, said she lost consciousness during the rescue and only regained awareness in a hospital bed surrounded by her teachers.Although doctors informed her that she had not sustained internal injuries, Naiwumbwe said she continues to suffer headaches, joint pain and emotional distress following the crash.“All I remember is the loud sound of the crash. Every time I try to sleep, that sound comes back,” she said.Despite the ordeal, she said she hopes to recover and return to school soon. Francis Nabirye, the Geography teacher who supervised the educational trip, said the students had travelled peacefully in four coaster buses from Kamuli district to Ssezibwa Falls in Buikwe district.However, he said concerns about the speed of one of the buses emerged during the return journey.“We spoke to the driver and asked him to reduce his speed, but he did not heed our advice,” Nabirye said.He added that about 20 students are recovering well and are expected to be discharged next week. The school has notified parents of the injured students and is working with them to procure the medical supplies required for their treatment.The post Students ‘mocked’ driver before Nalango school bus crash appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.