Rampaging elephant flips car killing tourist in Zambia

AN 80-YEAR-OLD American woman has been killed while on safari in Zambia after an elephant charged at her tour party’s car and flipped it over.

She was part of a group of six tourists staying at the Lufupa Camp in the Kafue National Park.

They were on a photography tour on Saturday morning when the bull elephant spotted the vehicle travelling along a bush-lined road, footage filmed from inside the car shows.

Just as the elephant catches up with the car, the vehicle suddenly stops.

A statement from the tour company, Wilderness Zambia, said the route was “blocked”.

The passenger in the car continues to film as the elephant turns towards the group and flips the vehicle over twice. The 80-year-old woman, who has not been named, later died from her injuries. Another woman in the group was also hurt and taken to hospital.

The four other guests received treatment locally for minor injuries.

Keith Vincent, Wilderness Zambia’s chief executive officer, said: “Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.”

He said management at the national park dispatched a helicopter to the scene.

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died.

“We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident,” Mr Vincent added.

Kafue National Park is the largest game reserve in Africa.