News / National
Vic Falls tram accident tourist dies - report
02 Jul 2014 at 14:34hrs | Views
One of the twelve tourists who were injured Tuesday after a tram they were travelling in collided with a goods train in the resort town of Victoria Falls has died.
The ZBC reported that two of the injured passengers who sustained head injuries were flown to South Africa for expert treatment.
Reports from South Africa indicate that one of the injured has since died.
The collision occurred near the Victoria Falls Hotel around 5pm when the goods train, which was coming from Hwange, rammed into the tram.
ZRP national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the injured tourists were from USA, Australia and Netherlands.
"As the Zimbabwe Republic Police we are confirming the accident. However our men are on the ground to try and find out what could have possibly happened. The injured are white foreign tourists," she said.
Residents who spoke to SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme said the goods train changed lanes, onto the path of the tram, leading to the collision.
The tram was hit just after pulling off towards Jafuta Lodge, where the tourists intended to have their supper. Their guide, an employee of Victoria Falls Steam Train Company, jumped off to safety leaving the 30 tourists on the tram.
The open-sided trams are used to transport tourists to the town's star attractions such as the Victoria Falls Bridge and Rainforest.
Saungweme said a signal error was the most likely explanation for the accident.
"But even if this is the case it is unlikely that this is a problem the troubled National Railways of Zimbabwe will be sorting out once and for all as it is linked to the theft of copper which is used in the signals system."
Senior government officials have been implicated in the nationwide vandalism of signals equipment for copper, which is then sold on to firms in China.
Saungweme said hope was now pinned on the reappointed ex-NRZ chief Alvord Mabena to revive the ailing parastatal and bring its operations back to a decent standard.
The ZBC reported that two of the injured passengers who sustained head injuries were flown to South Africa for expert treatment.
Reports from South Africa indicate that one of the injured has since died.
The collision occurred near the Victoria Falls Hotel around 5pm when the goods train, which was coming from Hwange, rammed into the tram.
ZRP national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the injured tourists were from USA, Australia and Netherlands.
"As the Zimbabwe Republic Police we are confirming the accident. However our men are on the ground to try and find out what could have possibly happened. The injured are white foreign tourists," she said.
The tram was hit just after pulling off towards Jafuta Lodge, where the tourists intended to have their supper. Their guide, an employee of Victoria Falls Steam Train Company, jumped off to safety leaving the 30 tourists on the tram.
The open-sided trams are used to transport tourists to the town's star attractions such as the Victoria Falls Bridge and Rainforest.
Saungweme said a signal error was the most likely explanation for the accident.
"But even if this is the case it is unlikely that this is a problem the troubled National Railways of Zimbabwe will be sorting out once and for all as it is linked to the theft of copper which is used in the signals system."
Senior government officials have been implicated in the nationwide vandalism of signals equipment for copper, which is then sold on to firms in China.
Saungweme said hope was now pinned on the reappointed ex-NRZ chief Alvord Mabena to revive the ailing parastatal and bring its operations back to a decent standard.
Source - zbc
