FIVE people died on the spot while eight others were injured, some seriously, after a Toyota Granvia vehicle they were travelling in burst a tyre and overturned near Insuza along Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road on Saturday morning.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Billie Dube confirmed the accident which he said happened at the 147km peg, around 8:10am.
The vehicle, which had 13 passengers on board, burst its left rear tyre and overturned and rolled twice throwing the passengers outside.
"We received a report indicating that a Toyota vehicle was travelling towards Hwange with 13 passengers on board. On arriving at the 147km peg, the vehicle's left rear tyre burst and the driver lost control of the vehicle which overturned and rolled twice throwing out passengers. Five passengers died on the spot. The driver of the vehicle, Bernard Chafika (29) survived the accident but was injured," he said.
Insp Dube said police attended the scene and the injured were taken to St Luke's hospital. "The seriously injured passengers were referred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo," he said.
He said he could not release the names of the now deceased as their next of kin were yet to be notified.
Insp Dube said drivers should always value people's lives. "We are approaching the festive season and there is a lot of excitement but that should not lead to speeding as speed thrills but kills. Drivers should always value lives," he said.
No comments: