Masvingo – Tragedy struck the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway this morning, claiming the lives of six people in a horrific head-on collision involving a Ford Ranger and a haulage truck.
The accident, which occurred at the 223-kilometre peg, has left the community reeling in shock and grief.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the accident, stating that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, who confirmed the accident, attributed the collision to suspected human error.
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred this morning on 03/09/24 at the 223-kilometre peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road. Six people were killed when a Ford Ranger vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck. Police are currently attending the accident scene. More details will be released in due course,” the police statement read.
The impact of the collision was devastating, resulting in the Ford Ranger bursting into flames. Five of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition, their remains trapped within the wreckage of the vehicle.
The intensity of the impact also tragically ejected a woman and her infant from the Ford Ranger, leaving them exposed to the unforgiving road.
“Five of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition in the Ford Ranger dragged after the impact. Pieces of remains of a woman and a toddler were picked up at the scene. Investigations as to what caused the accident at a straight stretch are on,” said Chief Superintendent Ncube.
The accident has brought into sharp focus the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of road safety. This tragic incident follows a string of deadly crashes in the region, highlighting the need for increased awareness and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
Yesterday, a driver of a Nissan Sunny died on the spot when his car was involved in an accident with a haulage truck at the 73km peg along Harare-Chivhu highway.
The recent spate of accidents has raised concerns about the safety of Zimbabwe’s roads and the need for urgent action to address the underlying causes. The government and relevant authorities have a responsibility to implement measures that promote road safety and reduce the number of accidents on the country’s highways.
