ACCIDENT LEAVES TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED

Two people were seriously injured in a road traffic accident along Chinsali/Serenje road when their vehicle careered off the road and overturned three times.

The incident happened at about 13-30 hours yesterday near Shiwang’andu area in Chinsali district in Northern Province when a Toyota Surf driven by a woman registration number ABK 5055 was over-taking a Tanzanian tanker truck belonging to Siginon Global Logistics registration number T699 BSD trailer number T 709 BSK.

A ZANIS crew that rushed to the accident scene found two accident victims a man and woman sprawled unconsciously  while another man was trapped in an extensively damaged vehicle. 

The accident victims from Lusaka are believed to be members of one family.

John Lianda, an eye witness told ZANIS in an interview that the woman was over-speeding.

Mr. Lianda suspected that the woman must have been drinking whilst driving as bottles of beer were spotted at the accident scene.

“I just saw the vehicle (Toyota) after over-taking negotiating where to go and when I went at the accident scene, I found the accident victims sprawled on the ground and bottles of beer thrown out,” he said.  

Driver of the truck Aziz Mohammed told ZANIS that the woman who was driving the  Toyota Surf was  over-speeding and failed to negotiate whilst over-taking and careered off the road before over turning.

Mr. Mohammed, who claimed that he was driving slowly, said he was delivering petroleum products to Ndola in the Copperbelt Province.

“I’m alone in the vehicle going to Ndola when I saw the Toyota Surf coming behind me but eventually when over-taking me the lady who was driving the vehicle lost control and careered off the road and over-turned,” Aziz said.

And when contacted for a comment, Northern Province Police Commanding Officer Mukuka Chewe said he had not yet received the accident report.

However, Mr. Chewe regretted the high number of accidents along Chinsali/Serenje road.

He cautioned motorists against over-speeding in highways because accidents have claimed lives countrywide. The Northern province Police Chief said the names of the victims were yet to be identified.

“Kindly, call me later….I have not yet gotten that report. It is sad that accident happened,” Mr. Chewe stated.

ZANIS