derick.khumalo
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers
PASSENGERS travelling on a bus involved in the horrific crash that claimed the lives of three Highlanders Football Club executive members and an unidentified woman remained stranded at the accident scene on Friday.
The bus was travelling from Botswana to Harare when it was involved in a head-on collision with a Ford Raptor that claimed the lives of Highlanders chairman Colonel (Retired) Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Fiso Siziba, club treasurer Nkani Khoza and an as yet unidentified woman on Thursday night.
The accident occurred at the 60km peg along the Bulawayo-Harare Road.
The deceased were returning from Kariba, where Highlanders had played ZPC Kariba in a Castle Premier Soccer League match.
When Zimpapers visited the scene on Friday afternoon, passengers said they had been stranded there since the accident occurred the previous night, awaiting alternative transport.
Most of the passengers were women and children.
“We have been assured that another bus is on its way to take us to Harare, and we hope it arrives before sunset,” said Ms Martha Mutemi.
Mrs Ruveneko Mutasa said the ordeal had left her young daughters deeply traumatised.
“We were asleep when the accident happened, but when my daughters saw the scene in the morning, they were extremely traumatised. It is heartbreaking that people lost their lives. Fortunately, no one on the bus was seriously injured, but we are all still shaken by what happened.
“The vehicles involved were extensively damaged. Looking at the wreckage, it is difficult to imagine how anyone could have survived,” she said.
The carcass of the cow believed to have triggered the crash was still lying at the scene when the news crew arrived on Friday afternoon.
Preliminary reports indicate that the Ford Raptor, which was travelling towards Bulawayo, struck the animal before veering into the path of the oncoming bus, resulting in the fatal head-on collision.
The force of the impact reportedly threw one of the occupants from the vehicle, after which the victim was struck by a Nissan travelling behind.
Online Reporter