Published by the government of Zimbabwe
22 August 2007
Harare — Five people were burnt beyond recognition after a haulage truck they were travelling in was involved in an accident and caught fire along the Harare-Mutare Road in Macheke.
The truck hit the back of a broken-down haulage truck -- which was carrying 30 tonnes of maize -- and swerved into the lane of oncoming traffic, colliding with a Mazda B1600 pick-up.
Following the collision, the haulage truck driver lost control and hit a culvert, resulting in the vehicle overturning once and catching fire. The driver and his four passengers were burnt beyond recognition.
Three people who were travelling in the Mazda B1600 pick-up truck, which was heading towards Marondera, were injured.
The accident occurred near the 112-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare Road in Macheke at around 6am.
Officer commanding Marondera police district Chief Superintendent Newton Mutomba said the injured were rushed to Marondera Hospital where their condition was reported to be stable while the remains of the five deceased were taken to the hospital's mortuary.
He said the haulage truck, which was towing a trailer, was heading towards Mutare.
The driver of the broken-down haulage truck was not injured.
Chief Supt Mutomba said the broken-down truck was slightly damaged while the other truck and the Mazda B1600 were extensively damaged.
He said police had so far failed to identify the deceased and urged those missing their relatives who had been travelling along the Harare-Mutare Road to contact any nearest police station or Marondera Police Station and help in the identification of the victims.
Chief Supt Mutomba urged drivers to pull off the road completely whenever they have a breakdown to avoid accidents.
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