Ten people were killed, while four others were seriously injured yesterday afternoon when a Honda Fit collided head-on with a Toyota Noah along the Masvingo-Zvishavane Road.
The Honda Fit with six passengers on board reportedly exploded into a ball of fire on impact, burning all occupants beyond recognition. Two people in the Toyota Noah died on the spot, while two others died on admission at a Zvishavane hospital.
The four who sustained serious injuries were admitted. When the Zvishavane Fire Brigade arrived at the accident scene, motorists and villagers were watching helplessly as the inferno engulfed the Honda Fit.
Police Officer Commanding Zvishavane District, Chief Superintendent Edward Ncube, confirmed the accident which occurred around 1pm. Police said after bolting through a roadblock, the driver of the Honda Fit failed to control the vehicle, encroached onto the right lane before colliding head-on with the Toyata Noah which was heading in the opposite direction.
The accident, which occurred at Four Mile on the outskirts of Zvishavane, brings to 40 the number of people killed in road accidents since the start of the festive period on December 15.
Chief Supt Ncube said the Honda Fit was heading towards Zvishavane while the Toyota Noah was travelling towards Masvingo with eight people on board. He said the Honda Fit, which was over loaded, sought to avoid a police roadblock mounted near Four Mile, about 4km outside Zvishavane, and sped off towards town.
He said the driver lost control of the vehicle resulting in the accident 400 metres away from the police checkpoint.
"I can confirm that 10 people died in an accident which occurred along Zvishavane" Masvingo Highway when a Honda Fit which was eluding police roadblock collided head on with a Toyota Noah," Chief Supt Ncube said.
Chief Supt Ncube said preliminary investigations indicated that the driver of the Honda Fit was speeding.
"The bodies of the victims were taken to Zvishavane White Hospital awaiting postmortem and the six injured people were taken to the same hospital for treatment. The driver of the vehicle (Toyota Noah) was seriously injured and his condition is said to be critical," he said.
The names of the victims would be released once their next of kin were advised, he said.- The Herald
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