3 dead, 31 injured as cop crashes kombi
Police officer failed to produce licence at the scene of the accident
By Staff Reporter
Three people died while 31 were injured Tuesday when a commuter omnibus that was being driven by a police officer collided head-on with another kombi which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The police officer has been identified as 37-year-old Sergeant James Makaranga, who is attached to the Police Protection Unit and lives in Chitungwiza.
The tragic incident happened along the highway linking Harare and Chitungwiza.
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Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the tragedy, adding that investigations have been instituted into the crash.
“Police confirms the death of three people and injury of 31 passengers in a road traffic accident along Seke Road,” Chakanza said.
“Among the injured, 17 were rushed to Chitungwiza Hospital, 10 at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and 8 at Parirenyatwa Hospital.”
Makaranga, who survived the crash, had 15 passengers in his Toyota Hiace which collided with a Nissan Caravan driven by Tashinga Chihava, aged 22. Both drivers are said to have failed to produce their drivers’ licences at the scene.
Chihava had 18 passengers in his vehicles.
Two of the dead passengers were named as Wayne Chipuriro (42) and Pecking Feliati, aged 40.
Makaranga overtook a Mazda Bongo Van turning from St Patrick’s Road into Seke Road, encroached into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with Tashinga’s Toyota Hiace.
He now faces culpable homicide charges.
The vehicles were toured to ZRP Hatfield Traffic for inspection by the Vehicle Examination Department.
While it is an offence under the Police Act for serving police officers to perform other forms of employment without permission from the Police Commissioner General, it is however not uncommon for members of the force to take up casual initiatives to supplement their meagre incomes.
Police officers violating road traffic laws on the roads often enjoy some “immunity” from their colleagues in the spirit of protecting their own.
