News / National
Police probe Chawasarira accident
01 Sep 2018 at 08:59hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has started investigating the accident in which 13 people died on the spot, while 23 others were injured on Thursday when a Chawasarira bus collided head-on with a commuter omnibus near the 152-kilometre peg just after Kadoma tollgate along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
The accident occurred near Muzvezve River Bridge, about 10km outside Kadoma City at around 9AM when the kombi, which was on its way from Empress Mine, encroached into the lane of the oncoming bus.
The bus, which had 31 passengers, dragged the kombi for about 75 metres, killing all its occupants. Some of the passengers who were in the kombi require DNA testing for them to be positively identified.
One of the passengers died after being thrown out of the kombi on impact. The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has been activated and will provide funeral and logistical assistance to the bereaved families.
A raft of measures to curb road accidents will soon be tabled once a new Cabinet is announced. In a statement yesterday chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba urged drivers to exercise extreme caution when driving.
"Investigations are in progress and names of the victims will be released once their next of kin have been advised," she said. "We are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when driving on the road to avoid road traffic accidents.
"Despite the calls by police for drivers to exercise restraint and be responsible when driving, all these efforts are proving futile.
"We, therefore, are passionately appealing to all drivers to take heed of these calls. Let us be responsible when we drive and respect the sanctity of life."
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the Chawasarira bus was travelling towards Kwekwe with 31 passengers when the commuter omnibus, which was travelling towards Kadoma with 13 occupants encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic, resulting in the accident.
She said all the 13 occupants from the commuter omnibus died on the spot. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said a total of 22 passengers from the Chawasarira bus were injured and referred to Kadoma District Hospital for treatment.
She said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for post mortem.
The accident occurred near Muzvezve River Bridge, about 10km outside Kadoma City at around 9AM when the kombi, which was on its way from Empress Mine, encroached into the lane of the oncoming bus.
The bus, which had 31 passengers, dragged the kombi for about 75 metres, killing all its occupants. Some of the passengers who were in the kombi require DNA testing for them to be positively identified.
One of the passengers died after being thrown out of the kombi on impact. The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has been activated and will provide funeral and logistical assistance to the bereaved families.
A raft of measures to curb road accidents will soon be tabled once a new Cabinet is announced. In a statement yesterday chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba urged drivers to exercise extreme caution when driving.
"Despite the calls by police for drivers to exercise restraint and be responsible when driving, all these efforts are proving futile.
"We, therefore, are passionately appealing to all drivers to take heed of these calls. Let us be responsible when we drive and respect the sanctity of life."
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the Chawasarira bus was travelling towards Kwekwe with 31 passengers when the commuter omnibus, which was travelling towards Kadoma with 13 occupants encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic, resulting in the accident.
She said all the 13 occupants from the commuter omnibus died on the spot. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said a total of 22 passengers from the Chawasarira bus were injured and referred to Kadoma District Hospital for treatment.
She said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for post mortem.
Source - chronicle
