A Mozambican haulage truck driver was reportedly burnt beyond recognition after his vehicle went up in flames at the 220km peg along the Mutare-Harare Road on Monday.
Police confirmed the incident, but said preliminary investigations had pointed to reckless driving. The Harare-bound Bobby Transport truck was carrying a 30-tonne consignment of rice.
We suspect the driver was dozing behind the wheel as the truck veered off the road and travelled for about 100m before hitting some rocks, said Manicaland assistant police spokesperson Sergeant Muzondiwa Clean.
This resulted in the fuel tank exploding and the truck caught fire. Both the driver and the horse were burnt beyond recognition.
In a similar accident that happened near Mutare, another truck driver from the same company was involved in an accident at the 254km peg along the same road on Wednesday night.
The truck was also carrying 30 tonnes of rice to Harare.
Police said the driver, whose particulars were still unknown, failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle veered off the road and overturned.
Police said the driver was speeding.
