admin
Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
Seven family members, including a three-year-old girl, died on the spot yesterday when the vehicle they were travelling in side-swiped with a bus resulting in part of the car being ripped apart.
Police confirmed the accident which occurred at around 1pm about six kilometres outside Gweru, near Daylsford suburb along the Gweru-Shurugwi Road. No one was injured in the bus which was travelling towards Shurugwi.
When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene, bodies of the seven were still trapped in the wreckage of their car while a small crowd from the suburb had gathered.
The crash was so horrific that some human brain could be seen on the body of the bus which was slightly damaged following the accident.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Midlands, Cde Jason Machaya visited the accident scene in the company of police Deputy Officer Commanding Midlands province, Assistant Commissioner Learn Ncube. Witnesses said the driver of the Toyota Corolla which was approaching Gweru failed to negotiate a curve and encroached onto the lane of the oncoming bus, resulting in the car side-swiping with the bus which was going in the opposite direction.
“The car had its right part ripped off and all the occupants of the car died on the spot,” said one of the witnesses who was in the bus.
Another witness said all the seven were crushed following the accident.
“It was so sad, when the bus later stopped, we rushed to the car with the hope of rescuing its occupants but all had died. They were crushed instantly,” said the witness.
In an interview at the scene, Asst Comm Learn Ncube said the accident could have been the result of speeding on the part of the Toyota Corolla driver.
He said all the seven were members of the same family and were coming from a family function.
“Preliminary investigations show that the driver of the car could have been speeding. Circumstances are that the driver of the car which had seven family members including the driver failed to negotiate a curve resulting in the car encroaching onto the lane of an oncoming bus,” he said.
Asst Comm Ncube said the seven were coming from a family function in Mberengwa when the tragedy struck.
“They were coming from a family function in Mberengwa and were on their way to Kwekwe,” he said.
He said the names of the deceased were being withheld since their next of kin had not been advised by yesterday evening.
Cde Machaya said the Government will find ways of assisting the family to cover funeral expenses.
“It’s very sad especially given the fact that all the seven are members of the same family. Government will definitely see how best to assist the bereaved,” he said.
Online Reporter