Four injured as bus rams into train

FOUR people, including a two-year-old baby, were yesterday seriously injured in Ndola when a mini-bus they were in rammed into a train at a railway-crossing on Moffat Road near the town centre.

The baby identified as Donald Simpanje sustained a broken right leg. Eye-witnesses said the driver of the bus, which was coming from Chipulukusu, misjudged the distance at the railway crossing and hit into the Zambia Railways train in the morning.

Copperbelt commissioner of police Charity Katanga said in an interview yesterday that there were four passengers on the bus while the train had only the locomotive driver.

The Toyota Hiace mini-bus registration ACV 3444 was being driven by George Kamanga, who sustained a cut on the forehead when the accident occurred around 10:00 hours.

“The accident happened at 10:0 0hours along Moffat road at railway crossing. Involved was a Toyota Hiace which was extensively damaged and was being driven by George Kamanga aged 30, who sustained cuts on his forehead and also sustained general body pains,” Ms Katanga said.

Other passengers on board were Idah Mtonga aged 10, who sustained cuts on the right ear and 17-year-old Imelda Simpanje. She sustained a fractured left arm.

Ms Katanga identified the locomotive driver as Andrew Mwale, 38, of Masala Township, who was on a U-20C train. Mr Mwale was moving from the Western direction and escaped unhurt.