Road accidents claim more lives

Pini Bothoko | Tuesday March 17, 2015 13:31

According to Tonota station commander, Superintendent Kenanao Badumetse, the accident occurred late afternoon on Friday in the village.

“The horse and trailer truck was heading North from South when it collided with a Toyota Corolla that was heading into Tonota a few metres away from the bus/taxi rank junction,” he said.

He said police do not know what could have caused the accident but investigations are ongoing.

Badumetse said that the driver of the Toyota Corolla was rushed to Tonota clinic after sustaining severe injuries and was later referred to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.

“We later received reports that on arrival at NRH the victim was certified dead by doctors. Investigations into the matter are ongoing whilst the deceased’s body is waiting for a post-mortem,” said Badumetse.

He said that it was the first fatal accident along A1 road this year explaining that drivers have been extra cautious along this road.

“We are always on the road doing patrols and speed traps but we do not know what could have caused this accident especially since the driver is late,” said Badumetse.

He warned that the stretch of road between Tonota and Francistown is currently under construction and could be deadly to careless drivers.

“This road does not have road markings and big trucks are always crossing the road as construction work is ongoing. I am pleading with drivers to be extra cautious and reduce speed to the required level and be able to see what comes their way on time,” he said.

He pleaded with drivers to give others a chance when driving to avoid unnecessary accidents. Meanwhile, Tonota police are also investigating a case in which some motorists stole goods from a horse and trailer truck that had an accident at Makomoto on Saturday.

He said that the truck, carrying goods covered with a canvass and southward-bound, accidently overloaded goods onto the road when it attempted to negotiate a turn. “When the driver of the truck was still waiting for help, motorists along the A1 road stopped and loaded goods such as mayonnaise, tomato sauce, canned beans and drove off,” he said. Badumetse cautioned members of the public to refrain from the habit saying it was an offence. “Imagine eating mayonnaise that fell from a truck. That mayonnaise could contain cracked shards and put people’s lives in danger.”