News / National
12 people die in kombi accident
16 Dec 2013 at 17:41hrs | Views
TWELVE people died yesterday, seven on the spot while 11 were injured, six seriously when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned at 65 km peg along Roy-Chiredzi Road, police confirmed.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the accident happened at around 7 am and that the injured were rushed to Musiso Hospital.
"I confirm that 12 people died in a road traffic accident involving a Nissan Caravan commuter omnibus that happened in along Roy-Chiredzi Road at around 7 am," Chief Supt Nyathi said.
He added: "Seven died on the spot while five died on admission at Musiso Hospital in Zaka under Masvingo province."
Chief Supt Nyathi said the injured were reported to be in a critical but stable condition while bodies of the deceased were also taken to the same hospital mortuary for postmortem.
He said the commuter omnibus was travelling from Svuure area under Chief Bota with 23 passengers on board, heading towards Jerera Business Centre in Zaka. "Upon arriving at 65 km peg along the same road, the driver failed to negotiate a bend and the vehicle veered off the road before overturning several times," he said.
"The commuter omnibus was overloaded because by right it is supposed to carry 15 passengers but they were 23 passengers on board."
Chief Supt Nyathi could not disclose the names of the deceased victims until their next of keen were notified.
"We will release the names of the deceased and that of the driver tomorrow (today). We will also give more information as we are gathering more details," he said.
With the festive season rolling the police have appealed to commuter omnibus operators to observe road traffic regulations to avoid carnage.
"We are really concerned with drivers and operators who do not consider the safety of passengers. As police we will not hesitate to arrest drivers who want to put people's lives in danger. Transport operators should take passengers' safety as a priority," Chief Supt Nyathi said.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the accident happened at around 7 am and that the injured were rushed to Musiso Hospital.
"I confirm that 12 people died in a road traffic accident involving a Nissan Caravan commuter omnibus that happened in along Roy-Chiredzi Road at around 7 am," Chief Supt Nyathi said.
He added: "Seven died on the spot while five died on admission at Musiso Hospital in Zaka under Masvingo province."
Chief Supt Nyathi said the injured were reported to be in a critical but stable condition while bodies of the deceased were also taken to the same hospital mortuary for postmortem.
He said the commuter omnibus was travelling from Svuure area under Chief Bota with 23 passengers on board, heading towards Jerera Business Centre in Zaka. "Upon arriving at 65 km peg along the same road, the driver failed to negotiate a bend and the vehicle veered off the road before overturning several times," he said.
"The commuter omnibus was overloaded because by right it is supposed to carry 15 passengers but they were 23 passengers on board."
Chief Supt Nyathi could not disclose the names of the deceased victims until their next of keen were notified.
"We will release the names of the deceased and that of the driver tomorrow (today). We will also give more information as we are gathering more details," he said.
With the festive season rolling the police have appealed to commuter omnibus operators to observe road traffic regulations to avoid carnage.
"We are really concerned with drivers and operators who do not consider the safety of passengers. As police we will not hesitate to arrest drivers who want to put people's lives in danger. Transport operators should take passengers' safety as a priority," Chief Supt Nyathi said.
Source - zimmetro
