TWELVE people died while 45 others were injured when the bus they were travelling in sideswiped a road repairs truck belonging to Group Five road construction firm at the 54km peg along the Gweru-Bulawayo road yesterday afternoon, police reported. REPORT BY PAMELA MHLANGA
The driver of the truck was also injured bringing the number of casualties to 46.
Deputy traffic police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luckmore Chakanza told NewsDay 10 people perished on the spot while two others died on admission at the Gweru Provincial Hospital. The accident occurred at about 12:45pm.
Chakanza said the bus belonging to Zebron Express and the Mercedes-Benz truck were both travelling from Gweru towards Bulawayo.
“The circumstances surrounding the accident are that the driver of the bus was travelling towards Bulawayo with 58 passengers on board and when he approached the 54km peg, he was signalled to stop at a construction spot where the Group Five company employees were working,” Chakanza said.
“The driver of the bus failed to stop and tried to overtake the truck which was stationery as it had complied with the stop signal.
“In the process the bus sideswiped the truck and as a result of the impact the right side of the bus was ripped off inflicting injuries to passengers who were sitting on that side of the bus.”
He said the truck veered off the road and overturned injuring the driver in the process.
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Chakanza said the injured were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital.
