Two ZUPCO buses collided head-on near Chinhoyi. Photo: Supplied
Seven people, including both drivers, have been killed in a horrific head-on collision involving two ZUPCO buses between Chinhoyi and Banket on Monday morning.
32 people were also injured, some of them critically so. Paramedics at the scene feared the death toll could rise given the severity of injuries to some of the patients
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident that occurred today May 23, 2022, at 0745 hours at the 101 km peg Harare-Chirundu Road between Banket and Chinhoyi near Dondo River Bridge, where seven people died after two ZUPCO buses collided head-on,” said ZRP national spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi confirming the horrific accident.
The route is notorious for serious crashes involving trucks as it links Harare to Zambia en-route to DRC.
It’s reported that one of the buses was travelling to Banket from Chinhoyi while the other was on its way to Hurungwe from Harare when they collided.
“The first ZUPCO bus tried to overtake a haulage truck on its way to Banket whilst the other ZUPCO bus was proceeding in the opposite direction. Both drivers died on the spot and were trapped under the buses while five passengers died and were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for post-mortem while 32 passengers sustained serious injuries and are receiving treatment at the same hospital,” he said.
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There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
SA Truckers who arrived at the scene minutes after the accident said it was horrific witnessing fellow drivers perish in the accident.
“I don’t know how to erase the image of the lifeless bodies of the drivers and passengers that I saw as we helped authorities to rescue the injured,” said one trucker.
He said that members from the fire brigade, motorists and local villagers worked together to retrieve trapped bodies and assist the injured.
Crossborder truckers are urged to check with authorities if the road has been reopened to avoid queuing in the backlog at the accident scene.
