Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo
Midlands Bureau
ONE of the survivors in the Kwekwe accident that killed 12 people on Tuesday morning, Mr Mike Chibike, said he stared death in the face when he saw a seemingly out of control fuel tanker rolling into his lane before it side swiped his vehicle and later collided with a van which was behind him.
Mr Chibike, a former police officer, recalled it was only by God’s grace that he survived to tell the story.
“It was on that steep ascent approaching the Sherwood turn when I saw the fuel tanker pulling two trailers encroaching into my lane. My truck was loaded and I was ascending and could not accelerate any further.
‘‘Still confused on what action to take, the tanker hit my mirror, then I heard a huge bang and my car overturned. It rolled several times while I screamed helplessly alone inside.
“By God’s grace, I came out with some bruises only to realise the tanker had also been involved in an accident with a vehicle which was following behind me, landing on its top and smashing to death all the 12 occupants on the spot. It was horrible,” said Mr Chibike who was discharged from Kwekwe District Hospital yesterday evening.
Police have since identified eight people killed in the accident as James Ncube (23) Village 44 Sherwood Marvellous Mapanzure (20) of Indarama Mine Kwekwe, Emily Mpofu Mucheuki (25) of plot 27 Sherwood, Jeshua Muza (35) also of Indarama Mine.
Others are Reward Nyatsongo (28) of Village 7 Kwekwe, Farai Bisendi(47) of Mbizo 16 Kwekwe, Emmanuel Mangomani(21) of Kwekwe and Maria Jasi (43) also of Mbizo 16 Extension Kwekwe.
The other four female adults are yet to be identified.
National police spokesperson,Commissioner Paul Nyathi said those missing relatives who were travelling between Kwekwe and Sherwood should approach ZRP Kwekwe District
Online Reporter