2 killed, 74 injured in bus accident

TWO people died on the spot while 74 were seriously injured when a bus they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned, landing on its roof in Nkayi on Thursday.

Police sources said the Big Bheki Tours bus, which was travelling from Bulawayo to Nkayi, was overloaded when the driver failed to negotiate a narrow bridge along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road at about 7PM.

"Two women, aged 72 and 68 years, died on the spot. The bus was overloaded with goods. It had 76 passengers instead of 68. The chassis which was bent, was a major contributor because as the driver tried to drive across a narrow bridge at Gweru River, the back wheels remained in mid air and it overturned and landed on its roof," said the source.

He added that 73 people were admitted to Nkayi Hospital with serious head injuries while one was transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital and his condition was said to be critical.

The source also said that the bus driver took advantage of the absence of roadblocks and took passengers from a Zikhalo bus which had broken down.

Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North, Inspector Sipiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.