Two people have died while 18 others have sustained injuries in a road accident involving a Higer bus belonging to Miracle Express and a stationery Scania truck.

Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo, who confirmed this in a statement yesterday, stated that the traffic accident occurred around around 05:00 hours in Isunda area; 5km south of Nakonde town.

Katongo narrated that the accident happened when the Higer bus driver, Benard Chishimba, 53, of Lusaka whilst driving at a high speed hit into a stationery truck and careered off the road.

She stated that due to the impact, Chishimba died on the spot whilst a lorry boy identified as Wilfred Mabala Mabula, 24, of Dar es Salaam, who was in the stationery truck, died upon arrival at the hospital.

“A fatal road traffic accident occurred today, 1st January, 2017 along Great North road at 05:00 hours at Isunda area about 5kms south of Nakonde town. Involved was Benard Chishimba aged 53 of Matero, Lusaka who was driving a Higer bus belonging to Miracle Express registration number ALK 8335 from the direction of the North towards the south with 26 passengers on board and Ally Mohammed aged 32 of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who had parked the motor vehicle Scania truck registration number T124 GAT and trailer T511APT on the left side of the road facing northern direction,” Katongo stated.

“The accident happened when the driver who whilst driving the bus at a high speed hit into a stationery truck and went of the road to the left and stopped after few meters. Due to the impact the driver of the bus died on the spot. And a lorry boy Wilfred Mabala Mabula aged 24 of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who was in the stationery truck also died upon arrival at the hospital.”

She stated that the 18 passengers who were injured on the bus had been taken to the hospital and attended to by medical officers.

“The following are the passengers who sustained injuries in the bus: (1) Dennis Nyuke aged 35 of Bulawayo Zimbabwe sustained a deep wound on the left leg and body pain and he has been admitted in Nakonde District hospital. (2) Maureen Chomba aged 31 of Katozi village,Chief Nawaitwika, District Nakonde sustained fractured right hands, painful right rib and body pains. She has also been admitted to the hospital. (3) Chagumaira Andrew aged 52 of Harare Zimbabwe sustained a painful head,painful left leg and body pain. (4) Makabangandingila Musewila aged 36 of Harare Zimbabwe sustained a cut on the upper left eye and body pain. (5) Daniel Nyambawe aged 36 of Gaborone Botswana sustained a cut in the mouth and body pain. (6) Robby MWANZA aged 40 of Kaunda square Lusaka sustained a painful head, a cut on the lower lips and body pain. (7) Charity Kombe aged 46 of Kapiri Mposhi sustained painful neck and body pain. (8) Miniva Chenga aged 48 of East park, Kapiri Mposhi sustained painful chest, a cut on the lower lips and body pain. (9) Moses Bwalya aged 35 of village Katozi, Chief Nawaitwika,District Nakonde sustained bruised face and body pain. (10) Mostard Ng’ambi aged 57 of village Chimyantu, Nakonde sustained Backache, headache and body pain. (11) Doreen Sabi aged 37 of Avondale Lusaka sustained a cut in the mouth, headache and body pain. (12) Lusinda Passmore aged 32 of Makeni Lusaka sustained chest pain and body pain. (13) Victoria Tembo aged 28 of village Katozi in Nakonde sustained painful neck, painful left leg and body pain. (14) Kabwe mwenya aged 28 of village Katozi,district Nakonde sustained bruised right hand, painful right leg and body pain. (15) Viana Nakamba aged 48 of Ntindi village,district Nakonde sustained bruised face, painful neck and body pain. (16) Beauty Kabali aged 30 of makeni Lusaka sustained bruised face, cut in the mouth and body pain. (17) Collins Simukonda aged 24 of Village Katozi, Nakonde District sustained a cut on the head, bruises on the right palm and body pain and (18) Bwalya Tobias aged 38 of Kamwanya compound in Mpika sustained a cut on the head and body pain. All have since been taken to the hospital and attended to by medical officers,” stated Katongo.