Tractor driver dies after hitting head on tarmac in crash with a truck

A tractor driver died on the spot after he was tossed on impact from his seat and landed on the tarmac with his head in a smash with a truck just outside Kwekwe, police said.

The deceased, who was driving a red Massey Ferguson, was headed towards Gweru, along the Harare-Bulawayo road, when his trailer was side-swept by a white MAN truck that was trying to overtake.

A police report from Kwekwe District Traffic Police said "…on approaching the 230km peg, the first party [truck driver] attempted to overtake the second party [tractor driver] in front of an oncoming vehicle."

"He tried to avoid a head-on collision, lost control of the vehicle, swerved back to his lane, and hit the right rear corner of the tractor's trailer. As a result, the second party fell on the tarmac and died on the spot."

The truck driver and his passenger escaped unhurt in the Tuesday afternoon deadly collision, police said, adding that the body of the deceased was taken to Kwekwe General Hospital for post mortem.

It was not immediately clear if the truck driver would face any charges.