The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporters
AT least 35 people have died while over 100 others injured in road traffic accidents since the beginning of the festive season.
The death toll reached 24 with 59 injuries on Christmas Day before the number increased by six more deaths on Boxing Day where 35 were left injured.
Police statistics show that two people were killed while 66 road accidents were recorded on Friday while another road crash claimed three lives in Kwekwe yesterday morning.
In a separate incident, 40 people were injured yesterday when a Zupco bus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned before landing on its side near Regina Mundi High School along Gweru-Kwekwe.
The injured were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital (GPH).
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said three people died after a vehicle they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck yesterday morning.
He said the driver of a Toyota D4D double cab who was driving towards Kwekwe attempted to overtake on a continuous line resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming Delta truck.
“The driver and two other passengers of the Toyota D4D died on the spot while another person was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital,” said Insp Goko.
He said the accident resulted in a pile-up with a few injuries recorded.
“A commuter omnibus which the D4D truck was trying to overtake leading to the accident was also involved in a pile up. There were no serious injuries in the omnibus, but we still need to make a follow-up at the hospital,” he said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi attributed most of the accidents to human error and urged drivers to be cautious on the roads.
In a statement, he said: “A total of 66 road traffic accidents were recorded on 27 December 2019. Of these two were fatal. The major cause of the accidents were speeding, reversing errors, following too close and inattention.
“A total of 128 touts were arrested, 141 motor vehicles were impounded and 672 tickets were issued for various offences.”
“We reiterate that motorists should be alert and travel within the stipulated speed limits on the road. Unnecessary loss of life should be avoided at all cost.s”
