Injiva runs over 4-year-old at zebra crossing

A FOUR year old pre-school going pupil was fatally hit by a speeding South African registered car while crossing a zebra crossing lane on Tuesday morning along Samuel Parirenyatwa Street in Bulawayo.

The boy was in the company of his sister who was about to drop him off at Queen Elizabeth Adventist Pre-School, which is just next to the area where the accident occurred.

The driver of the car was said to be speeding and failed to stop at the zebra lane.

According to the child's uncle Joel Mahlangu, the boy sustained major injuries and was immediately rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he died upon admission.

"The boys sister also sustained injuries, she will get better physically but emotionally she is experiencing a lot of pain. She was there and it is is hard for her. Upon seeing the speeding car, she grabbed her brother's hand, steering him to rush and avoid the car but both were knocked down. We are pained, this is terrible," he said.

Funeral arrangements have since been made for the boy and was to be buried today.

Radio Dialogue attended the service, which was held at Queen Elizabeth Adventist Pre-School.

The boys parents were overly shaken, his father Mxolisi Mahlangu said the pain was worsened by the fact they had no money to buy some pints of blood, which was needed at the hospital.

"My child died immediately before any help could be given because we did not have money to buy blood. It is paining that our child was hit at a zebra lane crossing and just next to the school gate by this car," he said in great grief.

Contacted for comment, Bulawayo Province Police Spokesperson Mandlenkosi Moyo said he was yet to receive a report about the incident.