Online Reporter
Berven Fombe
Herald Correspondent
THREE drivers narrowly escaped death yesterday after a container aboard a haulage truck was swept off the truck by the Seke Road rail-over-road bridge at the edge of the city centre and damaged their vehicles.
No injuries were reported among the drivers involved.
The incident occurred when a the truck attempted to pass under the Seke Road flyover. The truck and its container reached 9,6 metres from the ground but the rail bridge has a clearance of only 4 metres. The impact caused significant damage to three vehicles heading into the city centre and created a traffic jam.
Drivers of the affected vehicles and the truck driver were shocked by the accident that could have resulted in fatalities.
Mr Clide Mashozheri, the driver of one of the damaged vehicles, expressed gratitude for his survival, particularly as the container fell dangerously close to him.
“I thank God for my survival,” Mr Mashozheri said, recounting how the incident unfolded. “The container failed to clear the bridge and swerved. It was right in front of our eyes when the container detached from the truck. The Fortuner and a Mercedes Benz ahead of me were hit first.”
Mashozheri added, “I saw the container coming toward my head, so I quickly shifted my car into park and moved to the passenger seat. The truck then stopped with the container landing on my car.”
The driver of the Mercedes Benz, who chose to remain anonymous, shared his account.
“I was driving from Seke towards town when the truck failed to go through the bridge. The trailer fell, damaging three vehicles, including the Fortuner in front of me. I tried to manoeuvre to the side of the road, but my vehicle was hit as the container fell onto the vehicle behind mine.”
An eyewitness, Mr Jerico Kapfumo, said: “When this happened I rushed to the drivers to inquire if any of them were injured and they confirmed they were fine. Police who were working at the nearby traffic lights, arrived to assist.”
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were in progress.
Peter Tanyanyiwa