A TRUCK driver is on the run while nine people have died and 16 others have sustained serious injuries after a truck lost control and hit into a Mitsubishi Rosa while avoiding a bus which was in front of it.
According to a statement issued by police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the accident occurred on Saturday evening at Chingwere road junction along great North Road.
“Police in Lusaka recorded a Fatal Road Traffic Accident that occurred on 9th October, 2021 at about 18:40 hours along Great North road at Chingwere road junction. Involved was an unknown male adult driver who was driving a Mitsubishi Rosa Passenger Service Vehicle bus registration number BAK 9787 who died on the spot. The bus was extensively damaged. Also involved were 29 passengers in the Rosa bus of which eight unknown passengers sustained fatal injuries, two male adults, three female adults, two unknown male juveniles and one unknown female juvenile,” Hamoonga stated.
“Seven dead bodies have been deposited in the UTH mortuary whilst two bodies are in Chingwere level one mortuary (Deceased driver inclusive). Furthermore, 16 passengers in the Rosa bus sustained serious injuries in which seven female adults and nine male adults are all admitted in UTH.”
He explained that the accident happened when the truck was trying to avoid a small bus that was coming in front of him and in the process lost control and went into the lane and hit the Rosa bus.
“Also involved was an unknown male adult driver who was driving a Howo truck and trailer registration number AOB 3515 and BAC 9616 T which was damaged and the driver is on the run. The accident occurred when the unknown driver for the Howo truck who was driving from North to South swerved to his right side lane in trying to avoid a small bus which was in front of him, in the process he lost control of the motor vehicle crossed the island went in the opposite lane and hit into a Rosa bus that was moving from South to North,” stated Hamoonga.
Hamoonga noted that the bodies of the deceased driver and the passengers await identification and post mortem.
