Six die in bus, lorry accident

SIX people died on the spot yesterday when a Mazda Bongo lorry they were travelling in collided head-on with a Kukura Kurerwa bus along Gweru-Shurugwi Road near Guinea Fowl High School on the outskirts of Gweru.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident which occurred at the 13km peg along Gweru-Shurugwi road at around 11.30am.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the Gweru-bound lorry had six people on board, while the Chiredzi-bound bus had 65 passengers when the accident occurred.

"I can confirm that six people died in an accident when a Mazda Bongo lorry they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus along Gweru-Shurugwi Road.

"Circumstances are that the driver of the lorry lost control of the vehicle on approaching the 13km peg and he encroached into the right in front of an oncoming bus resulting in the head-on collision.

"One person who was in the bus sustained minor injuries and was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he was treated and discharged," he said.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the bodies of the victims were taken to the same hospital awaiting postmortem.
He appealed to motorists to abide by the road speed limits as well as ensuring that their vehicles were roadworthy.

A witness, Mr Charles Chisi, said on approaching the 13km peg, the driver of the lorry tried to overtake a commuter omnibus and encroached into the lane in front of an oncoming bus.

"The driver could have been exceeding the road speed limits because he had just overtaken another vehicle before he tried to overtake a kombi.

"The driver of the lorry, who was coming from Shurugwi direction, tried to overtake a kombi but realised that there was an oncoming bus. He tried to get back to his lane but the vehicle veered off the road.

"He then tried to control the vehicle back into the road but he lost control of the lorry resulting in the head-on collision," he said.