Horror crash claims 7, injures 23

By John Manzongo

HARARE – Seven people died on the spot, while 23 others were injured in an accident involving four vehicles at the intersection of Airport and Dieppe roads in Harare yesterday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri confirmed the accident. He said tragedy struck when a Jumbo Transport haulage truck, which was heading east along Dieppe Road, hit the three other vehicles.

“The haulage truck first hit a land cruiser it was facing then the two commuter omnibuses. Both commuter omnibuses were coming from the east facing the haulage truck. Seven passengers who died were in the commuter omnibus which was in front while eight of its passengers were injured.

“The two commuter omnibuses were carrying 15 passengers each. Among the deceased are four adult females, one male adult and two minors. In the other commuter omnibus, all the 15 passengers were injured and were taken to Parirenyatwa and Harare hospitals. The deceased were ferried to Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.”

The police spokesperson urged motorists to respect traffic signals.

“An amber light indicates that a motorist must prepare to stop. There is nothing like a late amber,” he said. According to an eyewitness, the haulage truck encroached into the lane of oncoming vehicles.

“The truck was nearly involved in a head-on collision with a Medecins Sans Frontiers land cruiser which it hit at the back. The driver lost control of the vehicle and failed to stop. “The truck landed on top of the commuter omnibus which was coming from the east.”

He said rescuers used a bulldozer to remove the haulage truck from the kombi.