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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
EIGHT people died, five of them on the spot, in two separate accidents in Masvingo yesterday. The first accident happened at around 1PM when a Masvingo-bound commuter omnibus belonging to Time Bus Company burst a left rear tyre and overturned several times killing six passengers and injuring others at the 15 KM peg along the Masvingo-Great Zimbabwe road.
The commuter omnibus, which was travelling from Nemamwa Growth point to Masvingo, had 18 passengers on board when tragedy struck.
The second accident occurred at around 5PM when a Toyota Corolla attempted to overtake another vehicle about two kilometres from the city along the Masvingo-Harare road and ended up being involved in a head on collision with an oncoming truck, killing two people on spot.
Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Kudakwashe Dehwa referred questions to national spokesperson chief superintendent Paul Nyathi who in turn referred The Chronicle to Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba could not be reached for comment last night.
However, a police source said in the first accident involving the commuter omnibus, three people died on the spot while three others died on admission to Morgenster Mission Hospital.
The police source said the other passengers and the driver were taken to the same hospital.
Paida Gumbo, who witnessed the first accident, said:
“Upon arriving at the 15 KM peg along the same road, the kombi had a tyre burst leading to its driver losing control. The vehicle then overturned several times before landing on its roof killing three passengers on the spot”.
The Chronicle visited the scene of the second accident and found bodies of the two victims, both from the Toyota Corolla vehicle, yet to be taken to the mortuary.
Online Reporter