Two lives lost in Solwezi road mishap

Two lives lost in Solwezi road mishap

Solwezi, April 26, 2013 (ZANIS) —Two people have died in Solwezi in two separate road accidents while a motorcyclist died in Mwinilunga in yet another road fatality.

All the three accidents occurred two days ago.

In one of the accidents a mini-bus driver died on the spot after his head was amputated when the mini-bus he was driving grazed against a steel deck mounted on the trailer of the haulage truck.

Five passengers on the mini-bus also suffered injuries and were admitted to Solwezi general hospital.

ZANIS reports that Northwestern province police deputy commissioner Paul Achume and Solwezi hospital spokesperson Levy Muna confirmed the accident involving the mini-bus in separate interviews.

Mr Achume said the accident happened on the Solwezi-Chingola road around 16.00 hours near Kabitaka area.

He said this is when a Toyota Haice mini-bus registration number ACL 3179 grazed against steel decks mounted on the heavy haulage truck registration number ZKJ 695 GP and trailer number BB 18 ZD GP belonging to Cargo-Tac of South Africa.

He said the mini-bus was being driven by Abel Muntunta, 21 of Zambia compound in Solwezi while the truck was being driven by Lameck Magondo, 41 of house No. 18156 Zengeza Chitungwiza in Harare, Zimbabwe.

He said Muntunta died on the spot after sustaining a fatal head injury.

And the hospital spokesperson Levy Muna told ZANIS that the institution yesterday received six accident victims, among them a dead body of a 21-year-old mini bus driver.

Mr Muna said the driver identified as Abel Muntunta had his head completely amputated from his body.  He said five other passengers on the mini-bus were injured.

He named those injured as Caephas funga-funga 52, Abel Kaponda 55, Phillip Tapula 78, Albert Chifita 58 and Wynter Tapula 19, describing their condition as stable.

In another accident, a three-year-old girl died at Solwezi General Hospital two hours after she was hit by a reversing vehicle.

North Western police deputy commissioner Paul Achume identified the deceased girl as Ester Samuyachi of Kyawama area.

Mr Achiume said the accident occurred at Kyawama compound at Mama’s bar around 10.30 hours as the girl was trying to cross the road.

He said Anthony Saitumbo, 28, who was driving vehicle registration number ALD 9987 that hit the girl has been arrested for causing death by dangerous driving.

And the police deputy commissioner said a motor-cyclist identified as Zuze Shinda, 45, of village Kashinakazhi village of chief Kanongesha in Mwinilunga also died on the spot after suffering fatal head injuries.

He said the accident happened around 15.30 hours on Thursday, April 25 along Ikelengi Mwinilunga road.

This was after the motorcyclist was hit on the side by a Toyota Land-cruiser registration number AAB 5624 belonging to Kalene Mission hospital as it was trying to overtake the motorcycle.

Mr Achiume said a passenger on the motocycle, Alan Muzeya of the same area, has been admitted to hospital after sustain a painful right shoulder and general body bruises.

He said the driver of the Toyota Land-cruiser, Fred Sakuwaha aged 33, has been arrested and charged for causing death by dangerous driving.

The body of the deceased motor cyclist is lying in the mortuary at Kalene Mission Hospital awaiting post-mortem.