Six people have died while three others have sustained serious injuries after a driver of a Toyota Ipsum failed to keep to his lane resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming truck in Mpika.

According to a statement issued by Police spokesperson Esther Katongo, Wednesday, the truck driver lost control after being hit into by the Ipsum and careered off the road, hitting a pedestrian to death.

“Six people, among them a driver and a pedestrian died while three others sustained serious injuries in a road traffic accident which occurred on 8th October, 2019 at about 15:30 hours at Mufubushi area, 40 kilometres south of Mpika town on Great North Road. Involved was a motor vehicle Toyota Ipsum registration number ACR 8889 being driven by male Malama Kanda aged 36 of Salamu Village, Chief Mpumba with seven (07) passengers on board moving from north to south direction. The Scania truck tanker driver is still at large,” Katongo stated.

“Also involved was motor vehicle Scania truck and trailer tanker registration number T662BTS, T108 CHA, property of fleet logistics of Tanzania being driven by male Sulemani Omary Kilasa aged 51 of Ubungo, Daresalaam, Tanzania from South to north direction and a pedestrian Philip Sikombe aged 32 of Mufubushi Village, Chief Chikwanda of Mpika District. The accident happened when driver of the Toyota Ipsum failed to keep to his lane resulting into a head on collision with the oncoming Scania truck and in the process the driver of the tanker lost control, careered off the road to the left and hit the pedestrian, Phillip Sikombe aged 32 of Mufubushi village who was walking off the road who died.”

Katongo narrated that five people who were in the Ipsum were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Michael Chilufya Hospital.

“The Toyota Ipsum spinned on the road and faced the direction it was coming from and in the process five people on the Toyota ipsum namely Bertha Mumba Bwalya aged 40 of Salamu Village, Chief Mpumba, Rosemary Mumba aged 65 , female juvenile Namangolwa Nasilele aged four, Sharon Kalenge aged 34 of Mukonteka Primary School and the driver of the Ipsum Malama Kanda were all pronounced dead upon arrival at Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital while the three who sustained injuries passengers namely Cecilia Chisanga aged 40, Kamfwa Nkandu aged 32, Benjamin Chata aged 22 are admitted to Chilonga Mission Hospital. Bodies of the deceased are in Mpika Urban Clinic mortuary awaiting postmortem,” stated Katongo.