THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) says investigations conducted into the Kapiri Mposhi road traffic accident in which a goods train collided with a fuel tanker truck have revealed that the crash was caused by driver negligence.

In a statement, Tuesday, RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga stated that the investigations established that the fuel tanker truck driver failed to stop at a railway crossing despite the warning sound from the locomotive, and ended up colliding with the train, causing an explosion which resulted in the loss of two lives.

“The road traffic accident investigations conducted by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to establish the cause of the Kapiri Mposhi road traffic accident in which a goods train collided with a fuel tanker truck have revealed that the crash was caused by driver negligence. The accident investigation report indicates that the accident happened on Monday, 14th February 2022, around 10:20 hours along the Great North Road at the Kapiri Mposhi railway crossing near the defunct Kapiri Glass Factory. The vehicles involved were, a fuel tanker truck with registration mark BBA 2400ZM/BBA2313T belonging to Kalahari Trans Zambia Limited and a goods train belonging to Zambia Railways Limited loaded with coal,” he stated.

“The accident investigations have established that Timothy Shawa, the driver of the fuel tanker truck, did drive without reasonable due care by failing to stop at a railway crossing and collided with the train causing an explosion that resulted in the loss of two lives. The investigations have further indicated that despite the warning signage placed before the railway crossing and warning sound from the locomotive, the driver of the truck could not stop to allow the train to pass in line with rule number 255 of the Zambian Highway Code which grants the train the right of way.”

Mubanga stated the report further revealed that the locomotive, which had 19 wagons of coal, dragged the fuel tanker for about 150 meters from the point of impact where the fuel tanker and part of the locomotive exploded into flames.

“The report further reveals that the locomotive, which had 19 wagons of coal, dragged the fuel tanker for about 150 meters from the point of impact where the fuel tanker and part of the locomotive exploded into flames. The fuel tanker truck was coming from Kapiri Mposhi heading towards Ndola while the train was moving from Kapiri Mposhi towards the Northern direction when the two collided at the crossing point of the road and the railway. The RTSA is of the view that the driver of the fuel tanker truck, acted negligently, violated the driver’s duty of reasonable care considering that he was carrying dangerous goods and demonstrated to be a danger to other road users,” stated Mubanga.

“Therefore, the RTSA will proceed to write to the driver to show cause why his Driving Licence should not be revoked for disregarding the provisions of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 with impunity. To compel motorists to stop at railway crossings, the RTSA recommends the installation of automated gates and warning lights at all railway crossings on the Zambian road network. The Agency wishes to convey a message of condolences to the bereaved families and the Zambia Railways Limited for the loss of lives that could have been avoided.”