POLICE in Chinsali have arrested and charged the driver of the Scania Marcopolo Bus in which 19 people died after colliding with a fuel tanker on Monday morning.

The driver, Titus Kawangu of house number 156 in Kitwe's Chimwemwe Township, had since been charged with 19 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Kawangu was driving to Nakonde when the accident happend at Matumbo area in Chinsali around 05:00 hours.

Initially, 18 people died on the spot while the 19th person died on Tuesday afternoon.

Northern Province police chief, Charles Lungu confirmed the arrest in an interview from Kasama yesterday.

Mr Lungu said investigations had revealed that the bus had no mechanical fault at the time of the accident. It was discovered that over speeding could have caused the accident.

Kawangu yesterday briefly appeared in court but claimed that he was not feeling well and was taken back to Chinsali General Hospital.

Mr Lungu said all the 19 who died in the Chinsali accident had been identified.

And all the six bodies from Tuesday's Kasama Road accident have been identified.