432 died in road accidents in second quarter of 2018

Four hundred and thirty two (432) people died in road related traffic accidents in the second quarter of 2018 while 7, 713 road traffic accidents were recorded in the same period.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says in the same period last year, 7,252 cases were recorded indicating an increase by 461 accidents.

Ms Katongo says of the 7,713 road traffic accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2018, 399 were fatal road traffic accidents in which 487 people were killed compared to 432 people killed in the same period in 2017.

She says this shows an increase by 55 persons killed and also an increase in the number of fatal road traffic accidents by 71.

she says 2,405 people sustained minor injuries in 1, 573 slight Road traffic accidents compared to 2,067 people slightly injured in 1,422 slight road traffic accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2017.

The Police Spokesperson states that the total number of casualties in accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2018 is 4,363 compared to 3,852 casualties in the second quarter of 2017 giving an increase by 511 casualties.

She discloses that among the casualties in 2018, 362 were children under the age of 16 out of which 44 died, 131 were seriously injured and 187 were slightly injured.

Ms Katongo further adds that a total number of 10,430 motor vehicles were involved in road traffic accidents during the period under review compared to 9, 770 motor vehicles involved during the same period in 2017.

She clarifies that most accidents in the second quarter of 2018 have been attributed to excessive speed, failing to keep to the near side, reversing negligently, and inexperienced driving.

Meanwhile Police in Kabwe have launched investigations in the murder of a 33 year old woman of C. Gate in Kabwe whose body was picked today 18th July, 2018 from an unfinished SDA Church building in Natuseko Site and Service in Kabwe.

In a statement availed to QTV News, Ms. Katongo said the victim is suspected to have been murdered between 22:00 hours on 17th July, 2018 and 06:00 hours on 18th July, 2018 by criminals.

She says the victim was found with injuries on the head and is suspected to have been raped before being murdered as the body was found naked.