News / Local
Man dies behind the wheel at the traffic lights
07 Jun 2012 at 22:33hrs | Views
A Bulawayo motorist lost consciousness and died behind the wheel at the traffic lights.
The driver, who has been identified as Philemon Sani Moyo of Entumbane suburb, stopped his T35 truck at the intersection of Leopold Takawira Avenue and Main Street, next to the Bulawayo Main Post Office, lost consciousness and died on the steering wheel.
The incident occurred at about 8 am.
Witnesses said a long queue of vehicles formed up behind the truck and impatient motorists started hooting.
"His was the first car on the outer lane at the robot, going towards 6th Avenue. When it stopped, he just slumped over the steering wheel and we thought he had fallen asleep," said Mr Ernest Intelligent Matinenga (25) of Gwabalanda.
He said motorists who were driving behind him started hooting in annoyance when the traffic lights turned green and he did not move.
"It was the morning rush hour and the drivers of the vehicles that were behind the T35 began hooting and shouting for him to start moving. They were having difficulties changing into the inner lane in order to go past his vehicle, because there was a large volume of traffic at the time," he said.
Ms Sikhulile Kamba, who was also at the scene, said one of the drivers ended up getting out of his car to confront Moyo.
"Everyone thought he was drunk and had fallen asleep. The driver shook him and he fell over. We were alarmed by his stillness and we began suspecting that he had gone into a coma. Someone called an ambulance," said Ms Kamba.
She said two ambulances arrived at the scene within minutes of the call.
"The ambulance drivers pronounced him dead and said they could not take his body away in their vehicles. They said only the police could remove the body," said Ms Kamba.
She said police were called from the nearby Bulawayo Central Police Station.
When the newscrew arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered.
Two breakdown triangles had been put, one behind the T35 and another in front.
The two ambulances were still at the scene.
"I think he suffered a stroke. He must have had a heart problem. I think God intervened and caused him to stop at the intersection before passing on, otherwise we might have witnessed a nasty accident," said a woman, who declined to be named.
Contacted for comment, the police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, confirmed police had received a report about the incident.
"Police attended an incident in which a motorist died while giving way at the robot-controlled intersection between Leopold Takawira Avenue and Main Street," said Insp Moyo.
He said the body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem.
"Police cannot speculate on the cause of death. We have to wait for the post-mortem report," said Insp Moyo.
The driver, who has been identified as Philemon Sani Moyo of Entumbane suburb, stopped his T35 truck at the intersection of Leopold Takawira Avenue and Main Street, next to the Bulawayo Main Post Office, lost consciousness and died on the steering wheel.
The incident occurred at about 8 am.
Witnesses said a long queue of vehicles formed up behind the truck and impatient motorists started hooting.
"His was the first car on the outer lane at the robot, going towards 6th Avenue. When it stopped, he just slumped over the steering wheel and we thought he had fallen asleep," said Mr Ernest Intelligent Matinenga (25) of Gwabalanda.
He said motorists who were driving behind him started hooting in annoyance when the traffic lights turned green and he did not move.
"It was the morning rush hour and the drivers of the vehicles that were behind the T35 began hooting and shouting for him to start moving. They were having difficulties changing into the inner lane in order to go past his vehicle, because there was a large volume of traffic at the time," he said.
Ms Sikhulile Kamba, who was also at the scene, said one of the drivers ended up getting out of his car to confront Moyo.
"Everyone thought he was drunk and had fallen asleep. The driver shook him and he fell over. We were alarmed by his stillness and we began suspecting that he had gone into a coma. Someone called an ambulance," said Ms Kamba.
She said two ambulances arrived at the scene within minutes of the call.
"The ambulance drivers pronounced him dead and said they could not take his body away in their vehicles. They said only the police could remove the body," said Ms Kamba.
She said police were called from the nearby Bulawayo Central Police Station.
When the newscrew arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered.
Two breakdown triangles had been put, one behind the T35 and another in front.
The two ambulances were still at the scene.
"I think he suffered a stroke. He must have had a heart problem. I think God intervened and caused him to stop at the intersection before passing on, otherwise we might have witnessed a nasty accident," said a woman, who declined to be named.
Contacted for comment, the police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, confirmed police had received a report about the incident.
"Police attended an incident in which a motorist died while giving way at the robot-controlled intersection between Leopold Takawira Avenue and Main Street," said Insp Moyo.
He said the body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem.
"Police cannot speculate on the cause of death. We have to wait for the post-mortem report," said Insp Moyo.
Source - TC
