Three traders died on the spot and 12 others sustained injuries when the Tipper Lorry they were travelling in hit a pothole and over turned several times at Oro Lakwal Bridge in Laguti Sub County in Pader district.
Police attribute the Sunday evening accident to reckless driving.
The traders were returning to Atanga trading centre and Gulu town from a market day in Acholi Bur Sub County in Pader district.
The dead were identified as Christine Amono, Bosco Oryema and Richard Obalim, who were clothes dealers in Gulu town and among the injured were a 1 year old boy Alphonse Rubangakene and his 17 year old mother Lucy Abur from Atanga Sub County.
Others were Odokonyero Richard, Christine Lamunu from Angagura, Christopher Kilama a mechanic from Gulu town, Alex Lawoko from Atanga and David Ouma from Atanga.
Two of the injured, Emmanuel Omara and Nasur Tabliq Ocii were admitted at Lacor hospital in Gulu town in critical condition.
Gulu district traffic officer, Patrick Okoya Kagwa who rushed to the scene of the accident on Monday morning, said the errant driver of the lorry Reg. no UAL 180X was still on the run.
He said once caught, the errant driver will be charged with reckless driving and causing detah and injuries through reckless driving.
He added that the driver will also be charged for carrying passengers for monetary gain on a vehicle which is not licensed to do so.
Mr Okoya also appealed to the Uganda National Roads Authority which is in charge of the road to repair the pot hole which has in the past caused several accidents.
By this evening, the ill-fated truck was still at the scene of the accident.
The secretary of Gulu Owino Vendors Association Robert Bongomin, said they were collecting condolences from members to assist in burial expenses.
Such accident cases are quite common, especially in West Nile.
Last week, about a dozen Ugandan traders transporting merchandise from Juba in Southern Sudan died when the lorry they were travelling in got stuck in river Rumula bed and was later swept away by a flood.
By Chwo Willy
