SEVENTEEN people died during the New Year celebration period, says police public relations manager Ester Mwata Katongo.

In a statement released in Lusaka today, January 03, 2017, for the period between December 30, 2016 and January 2, 2017 at 06:00 hours, Katongo stated that 237 road traffic accidents were recorded throughout the country.

“…of which 17 were fatal road traffic accidents in which 17 people died, 40 were serious road traffic accidents in which 78 people were left with serious injuries while 54 were classified as Slight Injury Road Traffic Accidents in which 74 people sustained minor injuries,” Katongo stated.

“126 were damages only road traffic accidents in which no individual was injured. Lusaka recorded the highest number of accidents with 82 in which two (02) people died, five (05) sustained serious injuries while 17 had minor injuries, followed by Copperbelt which had 46 accidents out of which three (03) people died, 30 had serious injuries and 18 had minor injuries. Central Province recorded 36 accidents with five (05) deaths, 12 seriously injured and 11 slightly injured; Eastern recorded 29 accidents with three (03) deaths and 11 serious injuries.”

She also stated that Central Province recorded 36 accidents with five deaths, 12 seriously injured and 11 slightly injured while Eastern province recorded 29 accidents with three deaths and 11 seriously injured.

Katongo further stated that Southern Province had 16 accidents with one death recorded, eight serious injuries and six minor injuries while Luapula province recorded16 accidents with one death, 11 seriously injured and 20 slightly injured.

Katongo however noted that the country was generally peaceful during this period.

“The lowest was Northern Province which had one (01) accident, one (01 death and without serious injuries followed by Muchinga with two accidents and no fatality. On crime statistics, during New Year festivities, the Country was generally peaceful and did not record major incidences of crime,” stated Katongo.