MUTARE – A 1-year-old infant is among six people who died on Friday after a haulage truck rammed onto a motionless smaller truck outside Mutare leaving several more hospitalised for injuries sustained.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the tragic incident on Saturday.
Police identified the deceased minor as Adella Henzira of Mushunje Primary School Mutare.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on 12 January 2024 at 1.30PM at the 35 kilometre peg along Mutare-Marange Road in which six people were killed while 12 others were injured.
“A Mazda BT50 vehicle with 17 passengers on board, which was travelling towards 22 Miles was hit from behind by a haulage truck while giving way to a stationary truck at Marange Turn-Off,” Nyathi said.
The driver of the haulage truck reportedly fled from the scene.
Meanwhile, police identified the rest of the deceased as Anna Tariri Machangachanga, 30, of Sakubva (Mutare); Joyce Juchi of Mushunje Primary School (Mutare); Portia Nyamajo, 43, (Chikanga – Mutare); Nomatter Henzira, 35, of Mushunje Primary School, Mutare and Tsitsi Masudze aged 47 of Dangamvura, Mutare.
The bodies of the victims were taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital mortuary for postmortem while the injured are admitted at the same hospital.
