Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
TWENTY-four people died while 96 others were injured in 196 road traffic accidents recorded during the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays.
The numbers represent a significant increase compared to the same period last year, when 16 deaths and 77 injuries were reported from 149 accidents.
In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the number of fatal accidents rose from eight to 13. The accidents were recorded between August 11 and 13.
“The number of people who died increased from 16 to 24, while those injured were 96,” he said.
Comm Nyathi said many of the accidents were attributed to reckless driving, mechanical faults, speeding and overtaking errors.
Two major accidents were particularly devastating. The first occurred on August 11, around 2am along the Mutare-Masvingo Road, in which six members of the Zion Christian Church died and 16 others were injured when a hired Toyota Quantum vehicle veered off the road and overturned.
The congregants were travelling from Gokwe to Chimanimani for a religious event.
The second fatal accident took place on August 12, at approximately 1pm on the Bindura-Shamva Road, in which four people died and 17 others sustained injuries when a rear left tyre of a Toyota Hiace kombi burst, causing the vehicle to veer off the road before landing on its wheels.
This incident highlighted the dangers associated with vehicle maintenance and the importance of regular checks before long journeys.
In another tragic incident, two people died when a Toyota Hilux veered off the road and overturned at the 87km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road on August 11.
A particularly disturbing incident occurred on August 12, around 11:30am on the Checheche-Rimai Road. A 16-year-old female juvenile was killed after being run over by a Nissan Diesel UD40 lorry that was carrying river sand.
The victim had disembarked from the lorry while it was still in motion.
