Dar es Salaam Tuk Tuk Driver Says He Asked to Be Jailed After Hitting Prado Because He Had Only TSh 10,000

A tuk tuk driver from Kigamboni in Dar es Salaam has explained why he asked the owner of a Prado V8 to take him to jail after an accident.

Robert John, 50, said he was transporting goods on September 10, 2026. His brakes failed near Selander Bridge at around 6 pm.

He was in heavy traffic and tried to steer the tuk tuk to the side. He could not control it and hit a Toyota Prado V8.

John said he remained at the scene after the accident. He did not run away from the owner of the car.

He told the owner that he had accepted his mistake. He said he knew the car was expensive but he could not afford to pay for the damage.

He said he only had 10,000 Tanzanian shillings at the time. He said it would be better to go to prison than to run away without taking responsibility.

He also said his insurance cover was not enough to repair a Prado V8. His honest response was captured on video by the occupants of the car.

The video was later shared on social media and went viral. Many people praised him for his honesty.

John said the owner of the Prado later forgave him. He said no payment was demanded from him.

He said the video was recorded so that the owner could show it to his insurance company as evidence.

After that, both parties left the scene.