Holiday death toll rises to 97

THE festive season death toll has risen to 97 after two more people were killed on Saturday while five others were injured when a Toyota Fortuner they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned along Masvingo-Mutare road.

The latest fatal accident occurred at the 226km peg at around 6 am. It comes two days after three people perished when a Nissan Caravan they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned before landing on its wheels.

The accident occurred last Thursday at the 133km peg along the Harare-Chirundu road.

The victims in Saturday’s accident were identified as Previous Maonde (19) and Paul Taruvinga (19) both from Bikita in Masvingo.

The two died on admission at Silveira Mission Hospital after sustaining head injuries. The injured, including the driver, were also taken to the same hospital where they are admitted.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the accident yesterday.

“The driver, James Taruvinga (32) was driving towards Mutare when he lost control of the car, a Toyota Fortuner and it veered off the road and overturned,” he said.

“We encourage motorists to avoid speeding especially during this time when roads are slippery as a result of the rains.”
Since the start of the festive season on December 15 police have recorded 1 198 accidents, 63 of which were fatal ones with 473 people sustaining injuries.

The first accident involved Zanu-PF Youth League chairperson for Matabeleland North, Cde Alvin Lundi Sinzeka whose vehicle veered off the road before overturning and rolling several times along the Cross Dete-Binga road near Manjolo.

One person died on the spot while Cde Sinzeka and four others who are members of the same family were injured. They were rushed to Binga District Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.

The accident happened at the 115km peg and Cde Sinzeka was driving from Binga to Mangobole with five passengers on board.

He allegedly failed to negotiate a curve resulting in him losing control of the vehicle and veering off the road before it overturned and rolled several times. The car landed on its side and one passenger died on the spot.

National police spokesperson Assistance Commissioner Paul Nyathi said most road accidents were a result of misjudgments on the roads. He called on motorists to exercise extreme caution on the road.

“Most of the road traffic accidents occur on highways as a result of speeding, overtaking errors, inattention, misjudgment, following too close, and recklessness. In most of the accidents recorded, motorists were trying to overtake in situations which were not safe,” he said.

“They also encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic and straddled the centre lane resulting in some hitting pedestrians walking on the side of the roads or standing at bus stops.”