News / Local
18 school kids cheat death, police flee accident scene
23 Mar 2017 at 04:05hrs | Views
FOUR pupils in Bulawayo were injured on Tuesday when a commuter omnibus carrying 18 school children crashed into a ditch following a 5km high speed chase by motorbike cops.
The four injured pupils were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
However, the police officers allegedly escaped from the scene after realising that the kombi had plunged into a ditch.
Witnesses alleged the police chased the kombi from Baines Junior School in Northend to Sauerstown suburb.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at about 5PM and the kombi driver who was involved in the high speed chase was ferrying pupils from Townsend, Milton and Eveline High schools to their different destinations.
A parent whose child was in the kombi expressed concern over police negligence saying all the children could have died.
The parent who identified herself as Patience said although the driver's behaviour cannot be condoned, she was disappointed with the police's response.
''As a parent I look up to the police to protect our children but in this case I felt really let down. They have a duty to prevent crime but in this incident they assisted in its commission. They could have noted the number plates of the vehicle instead of chasing the kombi from Northend suburb to Sauerstown," said Patience.
She said instead of assisting the injured, the police decided to escape from the scene of the accident, a confirmation that they realised that their action was unlawful and irresponsible.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the accident.
She however said she was not aware that the kombi was involved in a high speed chase with police officers.
"Four children were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where they were treated and discharged. The kombi was ferrying school children and it fell into a ditch at the end of a road in Sauerstown suburb. The kombi had 18 passengers," said Insp Simango.
The four injured pupils were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
However, the police officers allegedly escaped from the scene after realising that the kombi had plunged into a ditch.
Witnesses alleged the police chased the kombi from Baines Junior School in Northend to Sauerstown suburb.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at about 5PM and the kombi driver who was involved in the high speed chase was ferrying pupils from Townsend, Milton and Eveline High schools to their different destinations.
A parent whose child was in the kombi expressed concern over police negligence saying all the children could have died.
The parent who identified herself as Patience said although the driver's behaviour cannot be condoned, she was disappointed with the police's response.
''As a parent I look up to the police to protect our children but in this case I felt really let down. They have a duty to prevent crime but in this incident they assisted in its commission. They could have noted the number plates of the vehicle instead of chasing the kombi from Northend suburb to Sauerstown," said Patience.
She said instead of assisting the injured, the police decided to escape from the scene of the accident, a confirmation that they realised that their action was unlawful and irresponsible.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the accident.
She however said she was not aware that the kombi was involved in a high speed chase with police officers.
"Four children were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where they were treated and discharged. The kombi was ferrying school children and it fell into a ditch at the end of a road in Sauerstown suburb. The kombi had 18 passengers," said Insp Simango.
Source - online
