News / Local
Rowdy crowd bash cops for causing accident
12 Mar 2014 at 20:08hrs | Views
Youths armed with stones who attacked police
Two cops were injured and riot police were called to control a rowdy crowd that was attacking police officers who threw spikes in the path of a kombi, causing it to overturn.
Bloody interior of kombi after crash
About 16 passengers were injured in the incident that occurred in Bulawayo, along Old Khami Road at about 10 am today.
Witnesses said the police had blocked kombis at a roadblock and were demanding bribes to let them through.
The driver of the kombi that eventually overturned reportedly drove straight at the police officers in a bid to go past the roadblock without paying.
"The police threw metal spikes in front of the vehicle to puncture its tyres and force the driver to stop. The driver swerved sharply to avoid the spikes and overturned," said the witness.
The injured passengers were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment where three were reported to be in critical condition.
Bulawayo24 visited the site of carnage and found ambulances leaving with the injured, while a fire brigade crew was cleaning the blood stained road.
The kombi had reportedly diverted to Khami Road after finding Luveve Road and other access roads to the city centre blocked by roadblocks.
Youths armed with stones who attacked police
The angry mob kept chanting that police should be humane.
"Is it part of standard police procedure to recklessly endanger the public like that? Does Chihuri the Police Commissioner General know his officers have almost killed people because of bribes?" asked the protestors.
The riot police arrived and promptly contained the disturbance.
Police officers identify troublemakers in the crowd
It took the arrival of a second squad of riot police to eventually disperse the crowd.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident but said it was untrue that the police officer threw spikes.
"Spikes were laid on the road and when the kombi driver tried to avoid them he lost control of the vehicle resulting in it landing on its right side," he said.
The kombi after the crash, showing water on the road that was used to wash away blood
Insp Moyo said the kombi driver was running away from a police roadblock at Nguboyenja flyover along Luveve Road and made a u-turn only to find another roadblock along Old Khami Road.
"The driver is 23 years old and by law he is not supposed to drive public transport and we are going to charge him for that. If any of the passengers die he will be charged with culpable homicide and negligent driving," said Insp Moyo.
He said the owner of the vehicle will also be charged for letting an under aged driver operate a public vehicle.
Insp Moyo said the police were concerned with the rowdy behaviour exhibited by most kombi operators.
"We are worried about the bad behaviour by commuter omnibus drivers. If ever there is something they are not happy about they should resort to peaceful means to address it," he said.
Insp Moyo said it was legal for police to lay spikes on the road at road blocks.
Bloody interior of kombi after crash
About 16 passengers were injured in the incident that occurred in Bulawayo, along Old Khami Road at about 10 am today.
Witnesses said the police had blocked kombis at a roadblock and were demanding bribes to let them through.
The driver of the kombi that eventually overturned reportedly drove straight at the police officers in a bid to go past the roadblock without paying.
"The police threw metal spikes in front of the vehicle to puncture its tyres and force the driver to stop. The driver swerved sharply to avoid the spikes and overturned," said the witness.
The injured passengers were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment where three were reported to be in critical condition.
Bulawayo24 visited the site of carnage and found ambulances leaving with the injured, while a fire brigade crew was cleaning the blood stained road.
The kombi had reportedly diverted to Khami Road after finding Luveve Road and other access roads to the city centre blocked by roadblocks.
Youths armed with stones who attacked police
The angry mob kept chanting that police should be humane.
"Is it part of standard police procedure to recklessly endanger the public like that? Does Chihuri the Police Commissioner General know his officers have almost killed people because of bribes?" asked the protestors.
Police officers identify troublemakers in the crowd
It took the arrival of a second squad of riot police to eventually disperse the crowd.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident but said it was untrue that the police officer threw spikes.
"Spikes were laid on the road and when the kombi driver tried to avoid them he lost control of the vehicle resulting in it landing on its right side," he said.
The kombi after the crash, showing water on the road that was used to wash away blood
Insp Moyo said the kombi driver was running away from a police roadblock at Nguboyenja flyover along Luveve Road and made a u-turn only to find another roadblock along Old Khami Road.
"The driver is 23 years old and by law he is not supposed to drive public transport and we are going to charge him for that. If any of the passengers die he will be charged with culpable homicide and negligent driving," said Insp Moyo.
He said the owner of the vehicle will also be charged for letting an under aged driver operate a public vehicle.
Insp Moyo said the police were concerned with the rowdy behaviour exhibited by most kombi operators.
"We are worried about the bad behaviour by commuter omnibus drivers. If ever there is something they are not happy about they should resort to peaceful means to address it," he said.
Insp Moyo said it was legal for police to lay spikes on the road at road blocks.
Source - Byo24News
