By Loyd Matare
Eight people died on the spot in a horrific road traffic accident along the Mutare-Masvingo Road early morning, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed.
The crash occurred at the 246-kilometre peg near Mutendi Complex at around 0200 hours when a Dragon bus, carrying 20 passengers from Beitbridge to Mutare, attempted to overtake a haulage truck loaded with timber.
In a statement, ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
“The bus driver tried to overtake a haulage truck while there was an oncoming vehicle.
“Upon realising the danger, he swerved back to his lane and sideswiped the truck, causing timber to pierce into the bus.
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“Eight people, including the driver, died on the spot, while four others were injured.”
Nyathi said the bodies of the victims were taken to Masvingo General Hospital for post-mortem while the injured were admitted at the same institution.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges motorists to exercise extreme caution and avoid overtaking when it is not safe to do so,” he added.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Thursday’s accident involving a Toyota Fortuner GD6 at the 46-kilometre peg along the same highway has risen to six after two more victims succumbed to injuries at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
“It is sad to note that most of the accidents recorded between Friday and today were caused by overtaking errors on the part of drivers,” Nyathi said.
