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Remember Deketeke-Herald Reporter
SIXTEEN people were injured yesterday in a road traffic accident involving a kombi and a City of Harare truck at the intersection of Sam Nujoma Street and Robert Mugabe Road in the capital.
The incident, which occurred in the morning, also led to the arrest of 17 individuals for taking photographs and videos at the accident scene without the consent of victims.
The arrest of the people follows a statement from national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, prohibiting the public from photographing or filming accident scenes.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the accident, attributing it to non-functioning traffic lights at the intersection.
He explained that the kombi, travelling on Robert Mugabe Road, attempted to cross Sam Nujoma Street when the City of Harare truck failed to stop for vehicles on its left, resulting in the collision.
“The accident occurred around 10:30 am, primarily because the traffic lights were not operational. The City of Harare truck failed to yield to the cars on its left, resulting in a collision with the kombi and injuring 16 people, including 15 passengers in the kombi and the truck driver,” said Insp Chakanza.
Witnesses indicated that the truck driver miscalculated the situation, leading to the crash. One witness said: “Since the traffic lights were not working, the kombi driver proceeded cautiously when the City of Harare truck suddenly struck the vehicle, resulting in many passengers sustaining injuries.”
Rescue efforts were challenging, with witnesses saying they resorted to using pickaxes to help people escape from the kombi, as they were trapped inside.
The injured were promptly taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for treatment, and an investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter