Truck carrying cement crashes, killing four: Mutharika saddened with horrific accidents, orders govt to assist victims

At least four people, among them a police officer from Blantyre Police Station, have died after a truck carrying bags of cement crashed several vehicles along the Magalasi road in Chirimba Industrial Site in Blantyre  on Sunday.

The Chirimba-Magalasi accident occured barely a day after a speedig bus, belonging to Future Tours, killed 10 passengers on spot and injured dozen others at Rivirivi, Manjawira in Ntcheu Saturday afternoon.

According to Blantyre Police spokesperson Elizabeth Divala, the truck’s brakes malfunctioned in the process sweeping seven vehicles including four minibuses.

“The driver of the truck identified as Stephano Mikeli, 30, of Kapesi Village, Traditional Authority [T/A] Kachere in dedza, who works at Almeda Transport in Lilongwe, hit other vehicles due to over speeding.

“Four people in three different vehicles died on the spot, including our fellow officer Smartson Mkandawire who was with his friends in a Toyota Carina registration NS2161,” she said.

The Police  indicated that the death toll may rise since more victims are in critical conditions at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where they have been rushed to.

Reports also indicate that people, who rushed to the scene, instead of rescuing the victims, scrambled for the bags of cement at the expense of the victims’ lives.

In Lilongwe, four people, including a minibus driver died on arrival at Mitundu Community Rural Hospital after the vehicles they were traveling in equally involved in a road accident at Chiseka Quarry along Mitundu road the district.

According details made available to Nyasa Times, accident involved Toyota Corolla saloon, registration number BN 5905 and Nissan Vanette minibus registration number SA 605.

The accident happened when the driver of the saloon, identified as Wongani Nyirenda, tried to overtake the minibus driven by Bizwell Ligomeka, and in the process they collided each other.

As a result, driver of the minibus lost control of the vehicle and it overturned twice to the far near side bush while the saloon swerved and stopped on the other side of the bush.

The minibus’ driver and 3 passengers died on arrival at Mitundu community rural hospital while other 9 passengers sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, President Arthur Peter Mutharika has ordered government to provide assistance towards the cost of funeral arrangements and medical bills of those receiving medical attention.

Government spokesperson, Nicholas Dausi, who is also the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, said in a statement that President Mutharika and the First Lady are “deeply saddened” by the death of  10  people  in  an  accident  at  Liviridzi  Bridge  along  the  Balaka-Blantyre roa.

“The First Couple has also learnt with regret of another accident this morning, Sunday June 11 2017, at Chirimba in Blantyre in which a number of people have been affected.

“The  President  and  the  First  lady  join  all  Malawians  in  expressing their  condolences  to  the  bereaved  families  and  also  wishing  those injured a quick recovery,” said Dausi.

The general public is advised to contact government officers for further details including Rodrick Mateauma, District Commissioner for Balaka. Phone Number: 0888 867 508 or 0999 760 069 and Smart Gwedemula, District Commissioner for Ntcheu on phone number 0999 869 494.

Other officials to be contacted are  Victor Sandikonda, Deputy Director of Administration, Office of the President and Cabinet on 0884 865 048  and Fyawupi Mwafongo, Chief Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Department of Disaster Management Affairs on 0991 005 681.

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