News / National
Scotch-cart accident leaves one dead
24 Apr 2014 at 06:00hrs | Views
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy from Mwenezi in the Chief Maranda area died on Monday when a donkey-drawn scotch-cart he was travelling in hit a tree stump and overturned near Rutenga Business Centre, police confirmed yesterday.
Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the incident happened at around 11AM.
The deceased was identified as Siphalangongani Sipha of Mharadze village.
Asst Insp Dehwa said a relative, Trust Moyo, 18, of the same village, was guiding a donkey-drawn scotch-cart while Siphalangongani and another six year-old boy were on board.
He said along the way, Moyo stopped the scotch-cart intending to look for a whip in a nearby bush.
"When Moyo stopped, he got into a nearby bush to look for a whip while leaving the two minors inside. During Moyo's brief absence, the two boys drove the scotch-cart without it being led. The scotch-cart allegedly hit a tree stump before it overturned once," said Asst Insp Dehwa.
He said the two boys were thrown out and Siphalangongani was hit by the left edge of the cart on the head.
"Siphalangongani was hit on the head and sustained multiple and serious injuries leading to his death. He died on the spot. The other six-year-old boy escaped unhurt."
A report was made to Rutenga Police Station and police attended the scene before taking the body to Neshuro Mission Hospital for a postmortem.
Meanwhile, police have warned members of the public not to leave children alone when travelling in scotch-carts. We know that in most rural areas scotch-carts are the means of transport.
"These days many families are harvesting and they use scotch-carts in transporting their crops from the fields to their homes.
"We urge adults not to leave scotch-carts with children on board unattended because animals can behave awkwardly and children won't be able to control them," said Asst Insp Dehwa.
Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the incident happened at around 11AM.
The deceased was identified as Siphalangongani Sipha of Mharadze village.
Asst Insp Dehwa said a relative, Trust Moyo, 18, of the same village, was guiding a donkey-drawn scotch-cart while Siphalangongani and another six year-old boy were on board.
He said along the way, Moyo stopped the scotch-cart intending to look for a whip in a nearby bush.
"When Moyo stopped, he got into a nearby bush to look for a whip while leaving the two minors inside. During Moyo's brief absence, the two boys drove the scotch-cart without it being led. The scotch-cart allegedly hit a tree stump before it overturned once," said Asst Insp Dehwa.
"Siphalangongani was hit on the head and sustained multiple and serious injuries leading to his death. He died on the spot. The other six-year-old boy escaped unhurt."
A report was made to Rutenga Police Station and police attended the scene before taking the body to Neshuro Mission Hospital for a postmortem.
Meanwhile, police have warned members of the public not to leave children alone when travelling in scotch-carts. We know that in most rural areas scotch-carts are the means of transport.
"These days many families are harvesting and they use scotch-carts in transporting their crops from the fields to their homes.
"We urge adults not to leave scotch-carts with children on board unattended because animals can behave awkwardly and children won't be able to control them," said Asst Insp Dehwa.
Source - chronicle
