adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A MAN died when a vehicle he was travelling in veered off the road at exactly the same spot where former Warriors and Highlanders legend Adam Ndlovu died two years ago.
In the latest accident, a mechanic in Victoria Falls, Ephraim Ndebele, 51, has been fined $400 after being convicted of culpable homicide following the death of a man who was a passenger in his car.
Ndebele of Miles Road in the resort town, was driving a Honda CRV carrying four passengers when he lost control of the vehicle which then veered off the road and hit two trees.
The accident, which led to the death of Gomba Pelile Bernard, occurred in August this year.
Ndebele, who is employed by Barons Motor Spares as a salesman and three other passengers, escaped with minor injuries while Bernard died on the spot.
He pleaded guilty to culpable homicide when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani. Investigations established that Ndebele was speeding and failed to control the vehicle which ended up veering off the road.
In mitigation, he said it was not his intention to cause Bernard’s death.
“I’m also still in pain. I didn’t intend to kill him. I went to see his family a week later and gave them maize for food at the funeral and $100 cash,” said Ndebele, a father of six.
Prosecuting, Listen Nare proved that Ndebele was speeding when he approached the 417km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway.
“On August 4, the accused was driving a Honda CRV along Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road with four passengers he had picked near Hwange tollgate. At the 417km peg he lost control of the vehicle which then veered off the road to the left then right before hitting two trees,” he said.
Nare said the car finally stopped facing the direction of Bulawayo.
A medical report presented in court showed that Bernard sustained a double cervical spine fracture and dislocations and died on the spot.
The other three passengers were treated and discharged at Victoria Falls General Hospital.
The magistrate fined Ndebele $400 (or six months in jail).
Adam Ndlovu, who was then Chicken Inn FC head coach, died on the way to hospital on December 16, 2012, after a BMW X5 belonging to his sibling Peter, burst its tyre at the 417km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. The accident left Peter injured while a 24-year-old female colleague identified as Nomcebo Tshili, who was travelling together with the soccer legends, died on the spot.
derick.khumalo