No lives lost after S&B truck overturns

MANZINI - There was a sigh of relief as there were no lives lost when an S&B truck with three occupants and full of alcoholic beverages overturned and landed on the side of the Manzini/Helemisi uphill road.

The truck, which was headed to Big Bend, was said to have had brake failure, resulting in the accident which took place yesterday. Police who were manning traffic at the Manzini Nazarene Road promptly attended to the accident scene before onlookers could help themselves with what was left over.

When this publication arrived at the scene, the police officers were found attending to the matter. A few onlookers were already standing afar, hoping to get some alcohol.

They even asked this reporter to enquire if there would be any damaged alcohol that would be given to them.An eyewitness shared that the truck suddenly reversed while it was en route Leites Toyota.

He said they suspected an issue with the brakes. The witness mentioned that the three occupants who were on board the truck all survived as they were admitted to hospital and immediately discharged.

Meanwhile, one onlooker confided that they wished the police could allow them to take some of the alcohol that was damaged.

“It is almost Christmas and alcohol prices are sky high just like everything in the market, so we are hoping to get some. But the police here will not allow us,” said one onlooker.

The police vigilance prevented people from looting the alcohol, as they stood there waiting for the truck to be pulled back to its normal position.

Worth noting is that the alcohol which fell out of the truck could not be seen as it fell on the side which the truck landed. Only the stench of the alcohol could be smelled.

Recently, the driver of a truck ferrying empty beer bottles to Eswatini Beverages, was disturbed by another vehicle while negotiating a corner at Sidwashini near Engine Garage, resulting in the bottles falling off onto the road.