Tragic Accident Claims 15 Church Members, Injures 41
Fifteen people from a church group passed away after their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van crashed into a haulage truck on the Harare-Masvingo Highway. The accident happened near Beatrice, as the group was heading to a church event in Chivhu. Forty-one others were seriously injured, with some taken to Beatrice Hospital and others to Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi from the police confirmed the tragic incident.
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred this afternoon (yesterday) at around 1600 hours at the 53km peg along Harare-Masvingo Road in which 15 people were killed after a Sprinter kombi travelling towards Masvingo was involved in a head-on collision with a truck travelling towards Harare. More details will be released in due course,” he said.
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The recent accident highlights an ongoing concern as authorities emphasize the importance of responsible driving across Zimbabwe’s roads. Unfortunately, the country continues to witness loss of lives due to preventable human errors.
On Independence Day alone, nine individuals lost their lives, and 25 others suffered injuries in a total of 100 road accidents nationwide. Comparatively, during the same period last year, four fatalities and 22 injuries were reported from 133 accidents.
This year, there’s been a troubling rise in both fatalities and injuries from road accidents, pointing to a pressing need for improved road safety measures. Police investigations have identified human errors as the primary cause, including speeding, distractions, misjudgments, unsafe overtaking, and disregard for traffic rules among drivers.
During the Easter holiday period, the situation remained concerning, with 27 fatalities and 159 injuries recorded from 286 road accidents. These statistics underscore the critical importance of responsible and cautious driving practices to prevent further loss of lives on Zimbabwe’s roads.