ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A traffic accident in Ethiopia's Southern regional state has left three people dead, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday.
Adane Assefa, Chief Police Inspector, Boloso Sore locality at Wolaita zone in Southern regional state, said the traffic accident happened on Wednesday afternoon when a transport bus travelling on the road fell into a river leaving three people dead, reported state media outlet Ethiopia News Agency (ENA).
Assefa said another 17 people who received light to heavy injuries are being treated in nearby medical institutions.
He further said police is currently investigating the cause of the deadly traffic accident.
Assefa cautioned drivers to drive slowly in the area which has a steep geographical landscape.
Although Ethiopia has one of the lowest per capita car ownership rates in the world, deadly traffic accidents are fairly common, with the blame put on bad roads, reckless driving, a flawed driving license issuance system, and lax enforcement of safety rules.
