Two motorists were killed instantly when their vehicles collided along the Harare-Mutare Highway yesterday.
Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Nobert Muzondo said the fatal crash happened near Christmas Pass at around the 257km peg on the busy road.
According to police, a Toyota Hilux pickup and Honda Fit car were travelling towards Mutare when the pickup driver attempted to overtake the smaller car. A Shacman fuel tanker truck was coming from the opposite direction.
As the Toyota tried to swerve back into its lane to avoid the oncoming truck, the driver lost control, careened into the fuel tanker’s tank. The out-of-control pickup then smashed into the Honda Fit, killing both drivers instantly. They were trapped in the twisted wrecks and had to be cut free by the Mutare City Fire Brigade.
Inspector Muzondo blamed the collision on human error, urging all drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads at all times.
The ghastly highway pileup comes at a time of rising road fatalities in Zimbabwe due to reckless driving, aging vehicles and poor road conditions. The gory images and tragic loss of life serve as a reminder of how quickly a moment of inattention can lead to irreversible tragedy on Zimbabwe’s dangerous roads.
