Kombi driver jailed for fatal accident

THE commuter omnibus driver who was involved in an accident that nearly killed seven people yesterday told the court that his attention was disturbed because of marital problems after his wife returned from the United Kingdom with a child from an illicit relationship.

Paul Madyara (48), of 1085 Old Luveve was convicted on his own plea of guilty to negligent driving by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takundwa Witness Mtetwa on circuit in Inyathi.

He was banned from driving any public transport vehicle for the next two years and was ordered to surrender his drivers' licence to the Clerk of Court.

Madyara was also fined $200 or three months in prison if he failed to pay the fine.

However, the magistrate told him that the problems in his family could not be taken as a special circumstance.

The accident occurred in July along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road.

It was the State's case that on 26 July this year, Madyara was driving a Sprinter towards Bulawayo along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road with five passengers on board. The vehicle was also loaded with empty crates of bread.

Madyara was driving behind another car and when they reached the 142km peg, the vehicle in front of him drifted to the left of the road to give way to an oncoming Toyota Hilux.

However, Madyara instead of giving way, decided to overtake the vehicle in front of him and in the process had a head-on collision with the Toyota Hilux driven by Mr Ambulance Ncube who had one passenger on board.

Those who were injured were ferried to Nkayi District Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

Mrs Memory Ndlovu represented the State.