News / Local
Kombi accident, 17 commuters seriously injured
12 Jan 2014 at 17:29hrs | Views
SEVENTEEN Bulawayo commuters were on Saturday morning seriously injured when kombis they were travelling in were involved in an accident near Emapostolini bus stop along Luveve Road.
All the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital by four ambulances.
The three kombis involved in the crash were heading towards the city centre.
An eyewitness said one kombi was speeding and tried to overtake by getting in between two other kombis, resulting in it sideswipping a blue kombi on its right side.
"The driver applied emergency brakes and his kombi veered off the road sideswipping a white kombi which was travelling on his left side," the eyewitness said.
"The white kombi also veered and rammed on the pavement on the left side. Fortunately, it did not overturn, but the red kombi landed on its side trapping the driver and passengers inside.
"We tried to call ambulance officials, but they were not picking up their phones. They only responded after about 40 minutes after the accident," added the eyewitness.
Another eyewitness said the police came and rescued those who were trapped inside.
When news crew visited the accident scene, the injured were still lying on the ground with ambulance officials attending to them.
The driver of the kombi which overturned and a passenger were carried on a stretcher-bed and in coma.
Police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the accident.
He said 17 commuters were seriously injured as a result of the accident.
All the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital by four ambulances.
The three kombis involved in the crash were heading towards the city centre.
An eyewitness said one kombi was speeding and tried to overtake by getting in between two other kombis, resulting in it sideswipping a blue kombi on its right side.
"The driver applied emergency brakes and his kombi veered off the road sideswipping a white kombi which was travelling on his left side," the eyewitness said.
"The white kombi also veered and rammed on the pavement on the left side. Fortunately, it did not overturn, but the red kombi landed on its side trapping the driver and passengers inside.
"We tried to call ambulance officials, but they were not picking up their phones. They only responded after about 40 minutes after the accident," added the eyewitness.
Another eyewitness said the police came and rescued those who were trapped inside.
When news crew visited the accident scene, the injured were still lying on the ground with ambulance officials attending to them.
The driver of the kombi which overturned and a passenger were carried on a stretcher-bed and in coma.
Police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the accident.
He said 17 commuters were seriously injured as a result of the accident.
Source - Southern Eye
