A Zimbabwean truck driver with strong South African trucking roots has died in a devastating road crash in the United Kingdom after his vehicle collided with a fuel-laden heavy goods vehicle and burst into flames.
Langton Zulu, a father of three originally from Zimbabwe, previously worked in South Africa for Unitrans before relocating to the UK to continue his career in long-haul trucking. He was based in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Zulu died at the scene following a collision on the M25 motorway in Essex involving another heavy goods vehicle carrying a flammable load. His truck reportedly caught fire moments after impact, resulting in fatal injuries.
The crash happened in the early hours of the morning during a period of heavy freight movement on one of the UK’s busiest logistics corridors.
Zulu leaves behind his wife and three young sons, aged eight, six and four.
According to reports from UK authorities, the collision involved multiple heavy goods vehicles and occurred in a section of motorway traffic affected by earlier incidents involving truck fires and congestion. One of the vehicles involved was transporting hazardous material, which intensified the blaze.
Zulu’s death has been widely shared within Zimbabwean trucking circles as well as among former colleagues in South Africa, where he spent part of his professional driving career at Unitrans before moving abroad.
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His journey reflects a familiar path for many Southern African drivers who gain experience in South Africa’s demanding freight industry before seeking opportunities in Europe and the UK.
Investigations into the exact cause of the collision are ongoing as authorities work to establish the sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash.
The trucking community across Zimbabwe and South Africa has expressed shock at the news, with many remembering Zulu as a dedicated long-distance driver who built his life around the road.
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