31 December 2022
Vimbayi Mahachi
www.zimgbcmedia.co.zw
The driver of the Beta Bus which was involved Freightliner fuel tanker accident in Mutare has been arrested.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest.
“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Philip Tawanda Chirindo (34) the driver of a Beta Bus who escaped after a fatal road traffic accident involving a Freightliner fuel tanker and Yutong bus which occurred on 24/12/21 at the 242 km peg along Harare-Mutare Rd,” police said.
Five people perished in the accident when the two vehicles were engulfed in an inferno as the fuel tanker burst into flames on impact. Sixty passengers were injured in the traffic misfortune. Three of the five people died on the spot whilst two others died upon admission at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
The driver of a Beta Bus Company was traveling towards Mutare, with 63 passengers on board and on approaching the 242 km peg he is said to have encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic in an effort to avoid hitting suspected drunk pedestrian.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that,
“As a result, the bus collided with a Freightliner fuel tanker which was traveling in the opposite direction, with one passenger on board, he said.
“The suspect who is being charged for Contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 a.r.w section 64 (3) of the Rd Traffic Act Chapter 11: 13 ‘Culpable Homicide’, surrendered himself to the Police on 29/12/21 and will appear in court soon,” police revealed.
Meanwhile, Seventy-seven people died while 307 were injured from 1 295 road traffic accidents recorded in the first two weeks of the festive season.
ZRP said this was an increase of 10 deaths, as 66 people were killed in road traffic accidents between December 15 and December 27 last year.
In the year 2020, 441 people were injured from 1 216 accidents in the same period.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said of the 1 295 recorded accidents so far this festive season, 64 of them were fatal.
Zim GBC News