Four people die in Mchinji terrible accident
Four people, including a three year-old baby girl and a Zambian national, have died following a road accident involving a truck and a motorcycle along the Mchinji-Lilongwe M12 Road in Mchinji.
The accident occurred at Kankhande Village in Mchinji District, prompting police to launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer Limbani Mpinganjira, said the accident involved a Volvo articulated truck registration number NE 7828/MC 2980 G, driven by 47 year-old Peter Kadozo, and an unregistered Lifan motorcycle ridden by 29 year-old Zambian national Charles Petro.
According to Mpinganjira, the truck was travelling towards Lilongwe with two passengers on board, while its trailer was loaded with bags of sunflower cakes. Upon reaching Kankhande Village, one of the truck’s front tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The truck reportedly swerved into the opposite lane, where it collided head on with the oncoming motorcycle before overturning on the verge. Petro was carrying a pillion passenger, 23 year-old Laines Davite, who had a three year-old baby girl, Judith Derick, on her back.
The impact left the motorcycle rider, the pillion passenger, the baby and one male passenger in the truck with severe head injuries and multiple fractures. Police said the four were pronounced dead upon arrival at Mchinji District Hospital.
The truck driver and another passenger survived the accident with minor injuries and were treated as outpatients.
The motorcycle sustained extensive damage to its front part, while the truck’s horse was also extensively damaged.
Meanwhile,the deceased have been identified as Petro, of Simon Village under Chief Pembamoyo in Zambia; Davite and her three year-old daughter Judith, both of Chilalo Village under Traditional Authority Khongoni in Lilongwe; and the truck’s assistant driver, 42 year-old Francis Mwafongo, of Mwangalawa Village under Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga.
