adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
SIX pupils from Mpambe Primary School in Binga were seriously injured when they jumped out of a moving vehicle after the driver failed to stop at their drop-off point.Binga North MP, Prince Sibanda, yesterday said the accident happened on Thursday. He said five of the pupils were hospitalised at Binga Hospital with serious injuries.
“I visited the children at the hospital yesterday. They are seriously injured and some have swollen faces. What made it even worse was that they were falling on a tarred road,” he said.
He said the pupils were aged between eight to 11 years.
“The children asked for a lift from a pick-up vehicle driver who was driving from Cross Dete to Binga Centre. After giving them the lift the driver did not stop at their destination resulting in them jumping off the vehicle,” said Sibanda.
He said even after realising that the children had jumped off, the driver of the vehicle continued with his journey without checking what could have happened to them.
“He did not follow up on the children but proceeded to Binga but was later arrested and is being held at Binga police,” he said.
He urged drivers to always be on the watch when they are transporting children.
“I call on the drivers to be always on the lookout when driving children. With children what often comes in their mind after a driver fails to stop at their bus stop is that they are being kidnapped, they can do anything afterwards,” said Sibanda.
He blamed the accident on the long distance children have to travel when going to school in Binga.
“Our schools are very far apart, some children walk about 20KM to their schools so they will not hesitate to ask for lifts from motorists,” he said.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter