Four people have died in a tragic road traffic accident near Milunga Village on the Mpika–Kasama Road, following a head-on collision between two trucks on Tuesday.
The accident involved a maize-laden Howo truck and trailer registration number ADF 2206 / ADF 2231 traveling from Kasama towards Mpika, and a Canter light truck registration AIF 2256 headed in the opposite.
Mpika Town Council Public Relations Officer, Mushota Mpundu, said preliminary investigations suggest that the Howo truck, driven by 35-year-old Victor Kalimba, experienced a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and veer into the oncoming lane, resulting in a head-on collision with the Canter truck.
“Emergency responders from the Mpika Town Council Fire Brigade, led by Firefighter Gideon Nyimbili, rushed to the scene and found the Canter truck severely damaged, with the driver trapped inside,” said Mr. Mpundu in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He said despite efforts by the rescue team using hydraulic equipment, the driver, whose identity remains unknown, was found with fatal injuries.
Mr. Mpundu said a total of four occupants from the Canter truck including the driver were critically injured and were immediately transported to Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
He said no serious injuries were reported from the maize-laden truck and trailer at the time of the report.
Meanwhile, Mpika Town Council Divisional Fire Officer, Reuben Mukonde, has cautioned all road users to always exercise maximum caution especially during the night to avoid such tragic accidents.
By Margaret Mwanza
