TEN people died on the spot after a Mazhandu Family Bus collided with a truck on Great North road between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi around 05:00 hours today.

In a joint statement released by Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo and RTSA public relations head Fredrick Mubanga, the Mazhandu bus was over speeding.

“A Higer bus ALZ 3197 belonging to Mazhandu Family Bus Services driven by vincent Hangandu with a valid Public Service Class CE license collided with a Freightliner truck ACM 1160 belonging Sandhu transport around 05:40 hrs in the morning. Nine people died on the spot from both vehicles, seven from the bus ‘three females and four males’ and two from the truck ‘the driver and a female passenger’ and the two dricers are among the dead,” they stated.

And Copperbelt police commissioner Lombe Kamukoshi later confirmed that one more person’s body, which had been trapped, was retrieved from the accident scene, bringing the total number of those who died to 10.

The duo stated that the Mazandu bus had developed a fault along the way but that the driver continued to use the same vehicle.

“The Higer bus is alleged to have been over speeding and lost control thereby into the opposite lane and collided with the south bound freightliner truck. The Mazandu Family bus left Lusaka for Kitwe on 30th January 2017 at 15:35 hrs with 34 passengers. The bus had a road mishap earlier yesterday at around 19:00 hours. The driver however used the same bus and started off at around 05:00 hrs this morning,” they stated.

“RTSA has been noting the poor road safety record for Mazhandu Family Bus services which has resulted into a spate of road traffic accidents over the past few years. The agency will advise the public on the next course of action concerning the poor road safety profile for the Mazhandu Family Bus Service.”

Meanwhile, Katongo later told journalists that 25 people were seriously injured in the accident.

“Some of the injured are in Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital while others have been refered to Kabwe General Hospital. All bodies of the deceased are in Kabwe General Hospital,” said Katongo.