A seven months old baby has died on the spot while seven other adults are nursing serious injuries at Solwezi general hospital after the vehicle they were travelling in overturned along Solwezi-Chingola road.
North western province Commissioner of Police, Elias Chushiconfirmed this in a statement made to ZANIS in Mushindamoyesterday.
Mr Chushi said the accident occurred at 03:30 hours today at Mupitanshi area in Mushindamo district when a truck loaded with maize and passengers on top of the load lost control and overturned killing a toddler and injuring several others.
” Involved was Furnwell Simonga aged 33 of Emmanuel area in Mushindamo district, who whilst driving a Hino Ranger truck, plate Registration Number AJD 8279 from Solwezi to Chingolacarrying bags of maize and passengers on top of load, due to excessive speed, lost control of the vehicle went off the road to the right and overturned once”, he said.
Due to the impact of the accident, the toddler who was in the custody of the mother sustained a bruised head and died on the spot while the driver and other passengers sustained serious injuries, Mr Chushi added.
He identified the deceased toddler as Mercy Makai and the injured passengers as Joe Simonga, 53, Lushomo Sinyamuki, 20, Sudden Hamuziki, 22, Vinon Simonga, 25, Elizabeth Kashimbe, 33, Alice Salima, 46 and the other one only identified as Memory.
Mr Chushi said the driver was to blame and is yet to be charged as he is still unconscious and admitted in hospital.
“The victims are believed to have come from one of the farms in Kabisapi area, and the vehicle was extensively damaged.
“All the casualties have been admitted to Solwezi General Hospital and the body of the deceased is deposited into SolweziGeneral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination”, he said.
– ZANIS
