Tragic road accidents claim two lives
Providence Moyo
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Bulawayo witnessed two fatal road traffic accidents on the same day, resulting in the loss of two precious lives. The incidents highlighted the critical importance of road safety measures.
The first incident occurred on the 13th of June 2024 at approximately 16:45 hours along Leopold Takawira Avenue. A 57-year-old male driver of an Asian Star BUS was heading east with passengers on board when tragedy struck. He collided with 65-year-old Gladys Ndlovu, who was crossing the road from the north. Ms. Ndlovu suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Mpilo Hospital, where she tragically succumbed to her wounds. Inspector Abednico Ncube noted that the accident was attributed to the driver’s failure to keep a proper lookout.
Just a few hours later on the same day, at around 19:00 hours on Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue, another fatal incident occurred. A 27-year-old male driver from Norwood was driving a Nissan Champ westward when he struck an unidentified male pedestrian crossing from the south. The pedestrian, aged between 35-40 years, tragically lost his life on the spot due to serious head injuries. Once again, failure to keep a proper lookout was identified as the cause of the accident by the authorities.
In light of these distressing events, the police are urging all drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads and remain vigilant for pedestrians at all times. Inspector Ncube emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic rules and regulations to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring.Inspector Ncube stated, “The cause of the accidents was due to the failure to keep a proper lookout by the drivers.”
Furthermore, the police have called upon the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the unnamed pedestrian involved in the second accident. Family members with missing relatives matching the provided description are urged to contact their nearest police station promptly.
The loss of these two lives serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of negligence on the roads. According to fact-checking organisation, ZIMFACT, most road accidents in Zimbabwe are caused by disregarding road rules, driving under the influence of drugs, poor driving conditions, increase in vehicle population, among other causes.
Statistics from Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe show that close to six accidents are recorded every hour in Zimbabwe.
