Truck driver blamed for Chingwere accident

THE Chingwere turn-off road traffic accident involving a Sino Hiwo truck in which nine people died and several sustained serious injuries was caused by driver negligence and excessive speed, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said.

RTSA Head-Public Relations, Frederick Mubanga said the accident investigations established that the driver of the truck, drove without reasonable due care to other road users by failing to keep to his lane, failed to control the vehicle and was driving at excessive speed in a built-up area resulting in the loss of lives.

Mr Mubanga said the investigations also indicated that despite the inappropriate cutting-in by the driver of the Toyota Hiace bus in front of the truck, the driver of the truck, could have controlled the vehicle if he was driving at the appropriate speed limit.

He said in a statement that circumstances leading to the road crash indicates that the accident occurred when the driver of the truck who was driving from northern to southern direction swerved to the right side lane to avoid colliding with the Hiace bus that had wrongly changed lanes and in the process lost control of the truck, crossed to the opposite lane thereby colliding with the Rosa bus that was moving from southern to northern direction.

“The RTSA is of the view that the driver of the truck who is currently on the run, acted negligently, violated the driver’s duty of reasonable care and demonstrated to be a danger to other road users,” said Mr Mubanga.

The accident happened on Saturday evening along the Great North Road at Chingwere turn-off area in Lusaka and involved a Sino Hiwo truck registration mark AOB 3515zm, belonging to United Trillion Zambia Limited and Mitsubishi Rosa bus registration mark BAK 9787, a Public Service Vehicle belonging Kitie Mofya Chisela.