Council employee dies in New Year’s Eve crash

Michael Magoronga, [email protected]

A KWEKWE City Council employee died on the spot after he was involved in a head-on collision with a commuter omnibus along Kwekwe-Gokwe road on New Year’s Eve.

Twenty-five passengers who were aboard the commuter omnibus escaped with injuries.

Police confirmed the death of Oswell Gumbo (51) who was employed as a driver by the local authority and was driving towards Gokwe when disaster struck.

“On the day around 530 PM, Gumbo was driving a Mazda B1800 pickup truck towards Gokwe with no passenger on board. Lovemore Chikarara was also driving a Nissan Caravan in the opposite direction towards Kwekwe with 25 passengers on board,” said Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko.

According to police, suspicion is that there is one vehicle that encroached into the opposite lane resulting in the head-on collision.

“On approaching the 2km, police suspect that one of the motor vehicles encroached into the other lane resulting in a head-on collision,” said Inspector Mahoko.

Gumbo died on the spot while others sustained injuries.

“Gumbo was trapped in his vehicle and died on the spot. His body was taken to Kwekwe General Hospital. 25 passengers from the Nissan Caravan sustained moderate to serious injuries and were also referred to the same institution for medical attention,” said Inspector Mahoko.