3 killed in terrible lorry accident
Three people hdied on the spot at Kwacha Round About in Blantyre on Thursday when the driver of the lorry lost control while travelling from Limbe to Chikhwawa along Kenyatta Drive.
Southern Region Police Deputy spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa confirmed on that the three people died on the spot but the number is likely going to rise with other people, admitted at Queens Elezabeth Central Hospital, seriously injured.
The driver, Rashid Antony Mallick, who has since been detained by Police for interrogations, failed to negotiate a corner at Kwacha Round About in Blantyre when the lorry owned by Mallick Investments, developed a fault after leaving for Chikhwawa, about 1 km from the scene of the accident.
The trailer of the truck, which was packed like sardines, with people and assorted items ranging from groceries to hardware products, snapped off before swerving to the ditch.
However, National Road Authority officials said the vehicle was un-roadworthy after examining it.
“The handbrake was working but the footbrake was not in condition,” said one of the officials, on conditions of anonymity.
But the driver told the Police that the accident occurred because he lost control after brake failure.
Most people blamed the Police for allowing such overloading vehicle to keep to operate on long distance.
One of the sympathisers said it was surprising that Police do not apprehend drivers of such vehicles for committing traffic offences ranging from overloading to un-roadworthiness of the vehicles.
“It’s strange to see that we have many of such vehicles packed with people and dangerous items such as iron sheets and bars been allowed to operate distances to Chikhwawa and Phalombe,” said Undani Misomali.
