Chibombo Tragedy bodies await Identification

37 out of the 47 brought in dead (BID) cases from the Chibombo tragedy lying at Kabwe general hospital mortuary have been identified and efforts are being made for relatives to collect the bodies, and hospital authorities have called on relatives and members of the public to help identify the remaining bodies.

And Police have arrested the driver of the Toyota Landcruiser ABH 2214, believed to have been the lead cause of the accident in which 51 people died, the vehicle has also been impounded pending further investigations.

On Thursday around 07:00hours, a Lusaka bound Post bus Mercedes Benz registration number ABV 4020 collided with an oncoming Mercedes Benz foreign truck registration number 1791AB05 belonging to Hermis Trucking company killing the drivers of both vehicles and other passengers on the spot.

47 bodies were taken to Kabwe general hospital mortuary, where as the two other survivors also at the same hospital are said to be in a stable condition. Hospital acting medical superintendent Dr. Sylvester Kasonde disclosed to the Daily Nation in Kabwe that the 2 male victims suffered fractures and lacerations but their condition was stable.

“We received 47 BID cases and two survivors, whose condition is stable but we would like to call upon relatives and members of the public to help identifying the other 10 remaining bodies, so far 37 have been identified and arrangements are being made to have the bodies collected by relatives for onward burial,” said Dr. Kasonde.

Meanwhile central province police division criminal investigations officer (DCIO) Andrew Mbewe has revealed that a white man, the driver of the Land cruiser believed to have been the lead cause of the accident has been arrested.

“We impounded the vehicle and arrested a man whose identity I can only give as Mr. Eeden of Mkushi and he is currently detained at prospect police pending further investigations,” said Mbewe. It is suspected that Eeden, while driving the land cruiser attempted to overtake the bus wrongly but met the truck and as the truck driver tried to avoid hitting into him, lost control of the truck which eventually collided with the bus carrying over 65 people.

And Central province Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) chairman Fredrick Mulando says his party is saddened by the death of so many people at once and has called for quick traffic reforms by RATSA, if more deaths are to be avoided.

Saturday 9 February 2013

http://zambiadailynation.com/2013/02/09/chibombo-tragedy-bodies-await-identification-police-arrest-landcruiser-driver/