Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
A MOZAMBICAN man died on Thursday morning after a truck carrying petroleum collided with a rail motor near Odzi along the Harare–Mutare Highway.
The accident involved vehicles which were being driven by foreign drivers. Manuel Jose Sementie, 56, a passenger on board the rail motor, died in the accident.
Joao Jose Nicio, 42, of Maputo, was operating the rail motor.
The truck was being driven by Mike Zakaria Ngwalati, 43, of Lusaka, Zambia.
Ngwalati works for Neprapzum Petroleum Company of Zambia and was injured in the accident. He was taken to Rusape General Hospital.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said the accident happened at around 11am at the 135km peg.
Ass Insp Chinyoka said the truck was travelling towards Mutare while the rail motor was moving along the Harare–Mutare rail line in the opposite direction.
“Initial findings suggest that the truck driver failed to stop at a rail control point, resulting in a sideswipe with the rail motor as it was crossing.
“During the collision, Sementie reportedly jumped off the rail motor onto the tarmac but tragically landed in the path of the truck’s trailer wheels.
“He sustained severe head injuries after being hit by the trailer.
“Unfortunately, he died upon admission at Rusape General Hospital,” Ass Insp Chinyoka said.
He added: “The rail motor’s front right side was extensively deformed and it remains at the scene awaiting inspection by National Railways of Zimbabwe engineers.”
He added: “We are entering a high-risk season. Drivers must slow down, respect crossing points and always remain alert. Speeding continues to claim lives unnecessarily. As police, we are urging all road users, local and cross-border, to exercise maximum caution. “Lives are being lost because of avoidable errors. We appeal for responsible driving at all time.”
