Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza in Filabusi
TWO vehicles — a white Honda Fit and grey Nissan NV350 kombi — that were involved in a fatal accident that killed six Highlanders supporters about 15 kilometres from Filabusi have been removed from the crash site.
The two cars, now heaps of mangled metal, burst tyres and shattered windows, have been moved to Filabusi Police Station.
A tipper truck that was also involved in the accident is still at the crash site but has been moved a few metres away from the main road to prevent it from further obstructing traffic.
Contrary to social media reports that the tipper truck belongs to the Insiza Rural District Council, Zimpapers has established that it is owned by a local gold miner.
A shop owner at Amazon Business Centre, Mr Philimon Sibanda, who was one of the first eyewitnesses to attend the scene, said the kombi rammed into the tipper truck before the Honda Fit piled into the crash.
“The accident involved three vehicles but there was no one in the tipper truck as it had developed a fault in the afternoon and the driver left it on the side of the road. The fire brigade team had to cut metal to free survivors from the wreckage,” said Mr Sibanda.
The six Highlanders fans died on the spot while four others were injured when the Nissan NV350 kombi they were travelling in rammed into the rear of a tipper truck near the Amazon area, about 15km before Filabusi, on Sunday.
The fans were travelling to Filabusi after attending the Highlanders vs Herentals match in Bulawayo when the accident occurred.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the accident, saying an Insiza Rural District Council-trained rescue team responded to the scene and helped extricate the trapped casualties.
“This accident happened 15km before Filabusi, Amazon area. It was a Nissan NV350 kombi with 10 passengers heading to Filabusi from the Highlanders match. The vehicle rammed into the rear of a tipper truck,” said Mr Moyo.
He said six people died on the spot while four others were injured.
“Our Insiza-trained RDC team responded, attended and extricated the trapped casualties,” he said.
