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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
Three people died on the spot while 13 others were seriously injured when a cross-border bus they were travelling on side-swiped a haulage truck at the 72-kilometre peg along the Zvishavane-Gweru Road yesterday.

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident which occurred at around 4:30am.

The Gweru-bound Tombs bus with 35 people on board, was on its way from South Africa when overlapping pipes in the haulage truck ripped off its windscreen, resulting in the driver losing control.

Chief Supt Nyathi said after the side-swipe, the bus veered off the road, overturned and rolled before landing on its roof.

“I can confirm that an accident occurred along Zvishavane-Gweru Road involving a haulage truck and a Tombs bus which was coming from South Africa,” he said.

“The driver of the truck did not stop.”

Chief Supt Nyathi said the injured passengers were taken to Shurugwi District Hospital where six were further transferred to Gweru Provincial Hospital.

He said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary.

“Three are said to be very critical and are admitted at Gweru Provincial Hospital,” said Chief Supt Nyathi. “We are still carrying out investigations and also looking for the driver of the haulage truck who did not stop after the accident.

“The Traffic Act stipulates that one should stop whenever they are involved in an accident and notify the police as well as helping the injured persons.”

The haulage truck was travelling in the opposite direction.

When The Herald arrived at the scene, injured passengers whose condition looked critical were being taken to hospital.

Foodstuffs and other imported goods were scattered all over the scene.

Police were also attending the scene, while members of the Fire Brigade were assisting trapped passengers out of the wreckage.

A survivor, Ms Vimbai Dube, said most of the people on board were cross-border traders.

“We were very fortunate to have survived the crash, but most people were left counting their losses because most of the goods were destroyed,” she said.

Mr Aaron Mangoma, who escaped uninjured, said the driver of the bus lost control upon impact.

“We were approaching Lundi Bridge when there was an impact,” he said. “The bus’ windscreen was ripped off and the driver lost control.”