A HIGHLANDERS Football Club supporter coming from watching
the Bosso and Caps United match at Barbourfields Stadium died on the spot while
five other people were injured after the vehicles they were travelling in were
involved in a head on collision along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road on Sunday.
The accident involving a Toyota Regius travelling towards
Gwanda and a Toyota Hilux travelling to Bulawayo occurred at about 9PM near
Valley Tavern.
Police could not release the names of the victims before
informing their next of kin. Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector
Precious Simango said the driver of the Toyota Regius died on the spot while
other passengers were injured.
“The accident occurred when the driver of the Toyota Regius
was trying to overtake and encroached onto the lane of the oncoming vehicle.
This led to the two vehicles colliding head on. As a result of the accident,
the driver of the Toyota Regius sustained serious head and neck injuries and
died on the spot while the Toyota Hilux driver suffered head injuries and was
taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he is admitted,” said Chief Insp Simango.
“Five passengers from both vehicles sustained injuries on
their heads, backs and sustained bruises all over their bodies and were ferried
to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment.”
She urged members of the public to exercise caution on the
roads to save lives.
A Highlanders supporter, Mr Thulani Moyo, said the deceased
was a Bosso fan who was part of the crowd that watched the team’s first home
game against Caps United that ended nil all.
“We watched the
match together and after the match we drove to Highlanders Sports Club where we
usually hang out before we all retired for home. He stayed in Habane suburb in
Esigodini. We were shocked to learn that he had died in an accident,” said Mr
Moyo.
“We are really hurt that he lost his life in such a painful
way. As supporters we really want to emphasise to other supporters that
whenever they go to watch matches be it home or away they should avoid drinking
when they know they will be driving.”
Meanwhile, 12 people were injured while seven others
escaped unhurt on Sunday when a Gokwe-bound bus plunged into Gwelo River Bridge
and landed on its side after developing a mechanical fault.
The accident involving a Gatsheni Express bus occurred at
around 3AM.
Matabeleland North police spokes person Chief Inspector
Siphiwe Makonese said: “The bus was travelling from Bulawayo to Gokwe with 19
passengers on board. When it got to the 29 kilometre peg at Gwelo Bridge, it
developed a mechanical fault resulting in the driver failing to control the
bus. It veered to the right side of the bridge then to the left before it
plunged into the river landing on its left side,” she said.
Chief Insp Makonese said the driver and seven other
passengers escaped unhurt while the injured were all said to be stable at Nkayi
District Hospital.
She said the bus was taken to the Vehicle Inspection
Department depot in Kwekwe. Chronicle
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