Truck ploughs into pedestrians

A truck driver returning from burying his mother in Chiweshe struck and killed a pedestrian in Harare yesterday.

The truck which was carrying other mourners hit three people who were standing on an island along Julius Nyrerere Way near the Chitungwiza flyover. One died on the spot while the other two were seriously injured.

According to some eye witnesses the driver tried to avoid a car that was giving way to traffic travelling along Julius Nyerere Way towards Seke Road, veered off the road and struck people that were standing on an island, waiting to cross the road.

Winter Nyemba a relative of the driver who was sitting on the passenger seat when the accident occurred said the truck's brakes failed when the driver tried to avoid the other car.

The visibly shaken driver had just buried his mother Mrs Florence Nyemba who is reported to have died in a road accident in Bindura last Friday. Some superstitious eyewitnesses said it was no accient that the truck crashed into bystanders.

Harare Province Police spokesperson, Inspector Tadius Chibanda said the two injured people were ferried to Parirenyatwa Hospital where they are reported to be in a critical condition.