Near fatal accident involving three vehicles in Bulawayo

Sunday News Reporter

A serious accident occurred on Sunday morning at the intersection of Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue and Fife Street in Bulawayo, involving three vehicles. The vehicles included a Toyota GD6 twincab owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo’s Caritas branch, an H1 Hyundai Truck belonging to the supermarket chain Bonsa Spar, and an unregistered Toyota Probox, which is suspected to be an illegal taxi.

Details of the Accident

Witnesses reported that the Toyota GD6, driven by a nun, failed to yield at the intersection, resulting in the collision. One witness remarked, “This sister did not yield. She just drove through without checking traffic.” Another witness, a vendor near the scene, described the aftermath, noting that a passenger in the Spar truck was thrown from the vehicle upon impact. “The passenger landed on his head and was immediately rushed to Mpilo Hospital,” he stated, adding that there were blood stains where the passenger had fallen.

Safety Concerns

The vendor expressed concerns about the intersection’s safety, highlighting that it has become a blind spot with frequent accidents. He suggested the installation of traffic lights or speed bumps to improve safety.

Controversy During Investigation

During the police investigation, the nun claimed that the Probox was driven by a short, light-complexioned woman at the time of the accident. However, a man who identified himself as the driver of the Probox provided a conflicting statement. “This is not the driver I spoke to after the cars collided. It was a short, light-complexioned young lady who was visibly shaken,” the nun explained. She noted that the woman had emerged from the Probox and asked about her well-being, but later disappeared from the scene.

The man insisted he was the driver of the Probox and claimed the woman was merely a passenger. “That lady was a customer in my car. I am the one who was driving,” he asserted.

Aftermath

The Catholic vehicle was towed to the ZR Police’s Bulawayo Central Traffic station, commonly known as Drill Hall, while the other two vehicles were taken there by their respective drivers. Reports indicate that the condition of the passenger thrown from the Spar truck is currently critical.