15 people die in kombi, haulage truck accident

Fifteen people died following an accident that occurred close to Kandava Secondary School near Dema along the Chitungwiza-Hwedza road when a haulage truck rammed into a commuter omnibus near Dema Police Station last night.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident and said 12 people died on the spot while three others died on admission at Chitungwiza Hospital.

She urged motorists to desist from travelling at night saying the nation is losing a lot of lives as a result of road traffic accidents that occur during the night.

Eye witnesses told reporters that the driver of a titan truck which was coming from Hwedza and transporting bales of tobacco lost control of the vehicle and encroached into the other lane resulting in the head-on collision.

The eye witnesses added that the truck's head lights appeared faulty, a situation which might have impaired the vision of the driver.

The injured are recuperating at Chitungwiza Hospital while the deceased's bodies were also sent to the hospital's mortuary.

Meanwhile, police have released the names of some of those who died in the accident.

They are Ben Mugaba (55),  Elijah Nyabadza of Number 1074 Mbuya Nehanda Street Cherutombo- Marondera,  Michael Fata (50),   Getrude Mugocha (40),  Tinashe Bakasa (27)  Regina Madziwa (62) Sean Madziwa (4),  Wain Madziwa (2), Lesley Ropafadzo Muteweyi (6) and Fabber Mawire (27).