Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Sixteen people including six refugees have died on the spot in a bus collision accident along Mongu – Lusaka road.
The accident happened around 23hrs near Namilangi area in Kaoma District while 38 others survived the horrific accident.
Police Assistant Public Relations Officer Levy Lilanga tells QTV News in a statement that the accident involved a Higer Bus registration number ALV 9498 belonging to Liyez Bus Services which had 30 passengers and two bus crew on board, a Mitsubishi Rosa Bus registration number AAX 8562 that had 21 passengers on board and a Toyota Rav4 registration number ALP 4038.
Mr. Lilanga says the accident happened when the driver of the Higer Bus was trying to overtake the Rav4 which was stationery due to a breakdown as he was coming from Senanga and heading to Lusaka, in the process collided head-on with the Mitsubishi Rosa Bus which was coming from Lusaka heading to Mongu.
He says the 15 Passengers plus the driver from the Mitsubishi Bus died on the spot while five survived.
He discloses that all the passengers from the Higer Bus plus the driver identified as Mangolwa Muyanga were injured and are admitted to Kaoma District Hospital, together with the five passengers who survived from the Mitsubishi Rosa Bus where they are receiving treatment.
Mr. Lilanga says among the 16 that died, the following have been identified as Edwin Mbao, a soldier based at Luena Barracks in Kaoma, Tantine Kilundu aged 26 together with her son and Prince Mihigo aged 6 refugees of Mayukwayukwa refugee camp from Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Police Assistant Public Relations Officer furthermore discloses that all the deceased are lying in Kaoma District Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem.
Mr. Lilanga has since appealed to members of the public who could have their relatives travelling from Lusaka to Mongu on a Rosa Bus to go and help in the identification of the bodies.
Fredrick Mubanga
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga says preliminary investigations conducted by the RTSA have established that the accident happened when the driver of the Higer Bus was trying to avoid a stationery Toyota RAV 4 vehicle registration number ALP 4038 which had broken down.
Mr. Mubanga says because of poor visibility, the Higer bus driver did not see the oncoming Toyota Coaster thereby colliding.
He says further investigations have revealed that the driver of the Toyota Coaster bus, Chrossbin Mwittah, did not have the appropriate class of license to drive a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and that the vehicle did not have a valid road tax to be on the road.
He says the driver of the Higer bus Imangolwa Luyanga has been charged with the case of causing death by dangerous driving.
He states that the Road traffic statistics indicates that road crashes among PSVs are so prominent at night.