Driver dies in ‘seatbelt crash’

Manicaland Correspondent
A Mutare woman’s attempt to fasten her seatbelt while driving ended in tragedy after she lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned, killing her on the spot.

Manicaland provincial police spokesman Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the accident, which resulted in the death of Memory Derera (46), of 156 Upper 6th Avenue, Mutare.

“Derera was driving a white Gaia along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway towards Mutare with two passengers on board, including her husband, Ezra Songeya, aged 46,” he said.

“As they approached the 121-kilometre peg, Derera requested Songeya, who was seated in the front passenger seat, to fasten her seat belt for her. As she tried to fasten the seatbelt, Derera lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and overturned several times.”

Derera died instantly, while Songeya escaped unhurt and the other passenger was in stable condition at Birchenough Hospital.

The accident comes barely a week after a commuter omnibus driver ran over and killed a pedestrian at the four-kilometre peg along the same high- way.

Insp Kakohwa said on March 3, at around 8.30pm, at the N. Richards intersection, a man was run over by a commuter omnibus while attempting to cross the road.

“The driver, Violence Murambiwa, was travelling west-bound on the Mutare-Masvingo Highway in a Toyota Hiace, registration AEG 0037,” he said.

“At the 4km peg, Murambiwa ran over a pedestrian, who was crossing the road in an unknown direction.”

Police attended the scene and the victim, whose name has been withheld, was rushed to Mutare Provincial Hospital, where he died upon admission.

“The victim suffered serious head injuries and bruises all over his body,” said Insp Ka- kohwa.

He urged motorists to exercise caution and make safety their number one priority.