Kombi, truck accident claims 7

Seven people died and 12 others were seriously injured on Tuesday night after a commuter omnibus they were travelling in collided head-on with a 10-tonne truck along the Gokwe-Kwekwe Highway, about two kilometres from Gokwe business centre.

According to police, four passengers including the kombi crew died on the spot, while three others died on admission to Gokwe District Hospital.

"We are still investigating the cause of the accident. Drivers should always exercise caution on the roads and they should inspect their vehicles before travelling," said officer-in-charge southern region traffic Chief Superintendent Peter Hodzi.

However, an eyewitness John Ncube attributed the accident to the truck driver whom he alleged attempted to overtake without checking for on-coming traffic, leading to the head-on collision.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Leonard Chabata said some of the critically-injured passengers had since been transferred to Harare.

"We are worried about the increase in accidents on our roads. While the police make efforts to ensure that the roads remain safe, we urge drivers to exercise caution and to double-check before overtaking," Chabata said.

The kombi belonged to a Kwekwe-based traffic police officer Richard Nhodza, while the lorry belonged to Godfrey Muroiwa.