Dema accident victims named

FIFTEEN people died — 12 of them on the spot — while eight others were seriously injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in collided head on with a haulage truck at the 51km peg along the Harare-Wedza highway. 

The accident happened at 7PM on Thursday and drivers of both vehicles died. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the accident happened when the driver of a Hino truck encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic resulting in a head-on collision with a Toyota Hiace.

“A Toyota Hiace (PSV) was travelling towards Marondera with an unknown number of passengers on board while a Hino truck was travelling along the said road towards Chitungwiza. On approaching the 51km peg, the driver of the Hino truck encroached into the lane of the oncoming vehicle resulting in a head on collision with the Toyota Hiace.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the loss of lives through road accidents was worrisome. “Twelve people died on the spot while the other three died on admission to Chitungwiza Hospital. The bodies of the deceased were also taken to the same hospital,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba confirmed some of the names of those who died as follows and appealed to their relatives to go to Chitungwiza Central Hospital and assist in identifying them.

“Some of the accident victims are, Ben Magaba, 55, of Unit G Seke-Chitungwiza, Elijah Nyabadza of 1074 Mbuya Nehanda Street, Cherutombo-Marondera, Michael Fata, 50, Getrude Mugocha, 40, Tinashe Bakasa, 27, Regina Madziwa, 62, of Chiongotere Village Chief Seke, Sean Madziwa, 4, Wain Madziwa, 2, Lesley Ropafadzo Muteweyi, 6, of 12153 Old Zengeza-Chitungwiza, and Febber Mawire, 27, of Marondera Prison.”

She cautioned drivers against night driving saying it was risky due to poor visibility which was coupled by narrow roads and potholes.

“Some motorists are driving with defective lights at night and in most cases reaction time is slow due to visibility problems. Other drivers will also be speeding despite these highlighted road conditions,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

“Motorists should plan their journeys to curtail road accidents, where possible night driving should be avoided at all costs. It’s sad that we’ve lost so many lives on our roads and police are passionately appealing to motorists to carefully schedule their journeys.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said some farmers were taking advantage of night driving to move around with faulty vehicles and using drivers without licences. This, she said, was a huge risk to the general public.

“Farmers shouldn’t move at night with their produce as they risk their lives and that of others. We’re encouraging members of the public to carry their identity cards in order to assist police in the identification process in the event of a road traffic accident,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

“In the meantime, police are appealing to those who are missing their relatives to proceed to Chitungwiza Hospital and assist in identifying 11 bodies.” One of the survivors, Masline Makanda, said she was still in shock after escaping the tragedy with a fractured leg, arm and a deep scar on the right eye.

“I was seated at the back (of the kombi) travelling to Marondera with my six-year-old niece who died on the spot and my five-year-old son who is critically injured and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU),” she said. “I’m in pain and I really don’t know how God took me to where I am today. I’m still confused trying to understand how it really happened.”

Chitungwiza Central Hospital clinical director Patrick Dhliwayo said the hospital was doing its best to stabilise victims of the crash saying a surgical operation was successfully carried out on a 21-year-old woman who was now in dire need of more blood as she lost six litres of blood in the crash.

Source-Chronicle