BULAWAYO – Six people were killed and 11 others hospitalised following a collision between a kombi and a haulage truck in Bulawayo early Tuesday.
The kombi coming from Pumula South was carrying morning commuters when it collided with the moving heavy goods truck at the intersection of Khami Road and Masiyephambili, close to the Nkulumane Complex.
National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the intersection of Masiyephambili and Khami Road today at 5AM where six people died while 11 others were injured.
“A non-Zupco Toyota Hiace kombi with 17 occupants went through a red robot (traffic light) and rammed into a moving truck before it was trapped between the horse and trailer and dragged for about 30 metres.”
The kombi landed on its roof.
The Bulawayo Fire Brigade arrived at the scene at 5.55AM, 10 minutes after getting the call, a spokesman said. Six people were already dead.
“The Brigade extricated the trapped and the commuter omnibus was turned to stand on its wheels using a winch,” the spokesman said.
Three ambulances ferried the injured to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Kombis are banned from carrying commuters, except for those registered with monopoly transporter ZUPCO, but the government’s failing public transport system forces many to use unlicenced transporters to get to work.
