Two pedestrians killed by a speeding motorist in Chipata District

An unidentified man and his friend have died after being hit by a vehicle along the Great East Road.

ZANIS  reports Eastern Province Deputy Police Commissioner, Hudson Namachila to have  confirmed the incident in an interview, May 9th.

Mr. Namachila said the accident happened in the early hours of Thursday when a cyclist who was carrying a passenger trying to avoid a pothole and in the process fell on the road.

He said consequentially a driver Alfred Magrega, 28, of Magrega farm along airport road in Chipata who was driving a Mercedes Benz of unknown number plate, failed to apply the brakes before hitting the duo.

Mr. Namachila said that one man was crushed and died on the spot while the other one sustained severe injuries and died later in the evening at Chipata General hospital where he was receiving treatment.

The bodies of the deceased are currently lying in the Chipata General Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification , postmortem and burial.

The driver of  the vehicle is in police custody charged with causing death by dangerous driving and will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, the Fire Brigade in Chipata district has retrieved a body of an unidentified man from Katopola stream along Chizongwe road.

Chief fire Officer, Fackson Mbewe confirmed to ZANIS that the body was retrieved around 15:30 hours on Thursday and was taken to Chipata Central police.

He says that the body is now lying in the Chipata General Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification and burial.