adminTinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
A BULAWAYO man last night ploughed into four vehicles that were parked at a centre parking area along Fife Street at around 6pm when he lost control of his Toyota Altezza while racing with a colleague. The damaged cars include a BMW 7 Series, two Isuzu trucks belonging to Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railways (BBR) and a Mazda B16 pickup truck. Police were not immediately available for comment to establish the man’s name and other details of the mishap, as Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo was not answering his mobile phone until the time of going to print.
However, according to witnesses, the man suspected to be in his late 20s, is a member of Bulawayo’s famous Altezza gang, known for parading their cars in a convoy, often engaging in high speed street races in the Central Business District.
The witnesses say the man was racing with a colleague who was driving a Subaru, coming from the direction of Bulawayo Central Police Station, towards the National Railways of Zimbabwe headquarters when he lost control of the car while trying to avoid a car that was reversing.
After having crossed red traffic lights at the intersection of Fife Street and 9th Avenue, witnesses said, he almost rammed into a red Isuzu that was reversing but avoided it by swerving to his right.
“When he swerved he lost control and rammed into an Isuzu single cab truck belonging to BBR, swerved to the left and tried to control the vehicle back into the road but ended up smashing into a BMW parked about three cars from the Isuzu he had hit.
“He proceeded to smash into another BBR Isuzu twin cab parked in the centre parking area before ramming into a blue Mazda B16 that was two or so cars away from the centre parking,” said a security guard at the NRZ headquarters.
Another witness who identified himself as Norris said he was having a haircut at a hair salon opposite NRZ when he heard loud bangs, synonymous with gunshots.
“We then rushed out only to discover that this guy had hit four cars. He must have been speeding because the bangs were so loud for a moment we thought they were gunshots,” said Norris.
Owners of the smashed vehicles could not be located at the scene as they had gone to report the matter to the police.
Philani, a friend to the owner of the BMW, Mr Thamsanqa Nyathi, said they had left the car at around 4pm going out of town, only to be called to the scene at around 7pm.
The Altezza driver survived the wrath of an angry crowd that was barred by four men from meting instant justice on him.
When Sunday News arrived at the scene, scores of people were gathered at the Ecobank ATM where the men had sought refuge, while four men made a barricade around him from the angry mob which wanted to beat him up.
The situation almost got out of control as police took almost an hour to attend the scene.
When police officers finally arrived, they whisked the man away to Bulawayo Central Police Station to record statements.
Online Reporter