CENTRAL PROVINCE - A 29-year-old truck driver transporting meat from Southern Province has died after the vehicle he was driving crossed into the opposite lane and collided with two oncoming trucks along the Great North Road in Central Province.
The fatal accident occurred around 05:00 hours near the 17 Miles area in Kapandwe, south of Prospect, and also left several people injured, with some reportedly in critical condition.
According to Central Province Police Commanding Officer Lemekani Chirwa, the deceased has been identified as Clifen Hamuyone of Monze, who was driving a Fuso light truck, registration number BLE 220, carrying meat carcasses from Lusaka.
Mr. Chirwa said preliminary investigations indicate that Mr. Hamuyone failed to keep to his lane and veered into oncoming traffic, where he collided with a Hino Ranger truck travelling in the opposite direction.
The Fuso truck then reportedly lost control and crashed head-on into a Sino truck, registration number CAL 7902.
The impact left the front of the meat truck extensively damaged, and Mr. Hamuyone died at the scene. His body has since been taken to Kabwe Central Hospital Mortuary, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination.
A male passenger believed to be from Choma survived the crash but sustained a fractured right leg and multiple body injuries. He is currently receiving treatment at Kabwe Central Hospital.
Police said the driver of the Hino Ranger and his two passengers were not found at the scene when officers arrived.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Sino truck, Jose Zulu of Lusaka, escaped the collision without injuries, although his truck sustained damage to three tyres.
Four other unidentified passengers involved in the accident were also rushed to Kabwe Central Hospital for medical treatment.
Police have launched investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
Source: Kalemba