10 PERISH IN HORROR CRASH:

TEN people were killed when a Chinhoyi-bound Nissan Caravan and a haulage truck collided head-on at Mapinga, along the Harare-Chirundu Highway on Tuesday night.

One of the passengers sustained serious injuries. Mapinga is near the Great Dyke Pass. The accident occurred at around 10pm at the 60km peg where the ascent into the Great Dyke Pass begins.

The driver of the Nissan Caravan allegedly encroached into the lane of the oncoming haulage truck.

In a statement confirming the accident, police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba urged motorists to avoid night driving.

“We announce a very sad development where a fatal road traffic accident occurred at 22:10 hours at the 60km peg along the Harare-Chirundu Road, Mapinga on 10th July, 2018, where 10 people were killed,” she said.

“Circumstances are that the driver of a Nissan Caravan commuter omnibus was driving towards Chinhoyi with 10 passengers on board when he encroached into the lane of an oncoming haulage truck, resulting in a head-on collision.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said on impact, the vehicles veered off the road and fell into a ditch, with the haulage truck landing on top of the Nissan Caravan.

“The driver and eight other passengers died on the spot, while another passenger in the commuter omnibus died on admission at Banket District Hospital,” she said.

She appealed to all drivers to be cautious on the road, adhere to road regulations and avoid night driving.

The other passenger, who sustained serious injuries, has been transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Among the deceased were family members who were on their way to a funeral at the Kamurosi family residence in Hunyani suburb of Chinhoyi.

When The Herald yesterday visited the Kamurosi residence, where seven of the people who perished in the accident were supposed to attend the funeral, people were still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

Knowledge Kamurosi, brother to the deceased woman where the mourners were going to pay their last respects, said they received the news of the accident with shock.

“At least seven of the people who died in the accident were relatives coming to my sister’s funeral. We heard they were involved in a head-on collision at Mapinga. They were in a private kombi.

“We don’t know what to say faced with such a situation. It is a heavy blow,” he said.

Provincial administrator Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo said Government was stepping in to assist in the funeral and burial of the deceased. “As Government, we have activated the provincial Civil Protection Committee with a view to assist the affected families,” she said.

“Already, we have spoken to the national CPU where we have been given money for fuel and assistance for the bereaved families.

“This will also include assistance in the burial of the deceased.”