24 dead, over 30 injured in bus crash with haulage truck

By Staff Reporter

Twenty-four people died on Thursday morning while more than 30 were injured when a speeding Urban Connect bus they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck at the 262km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.

Police confirmed the tragedy which they said happened on the approaches of Lutumba Tollgate at around 8AM.

Police said “24 people were killed when an Urban Connect bus carrying 65 passengers was involved in a head-on accident with an Auro Transport haulage truck with four occupants on board. The accident happened as the bus was trying to overtake another vehicle.”

The bus rammed onto the haulage truck which had just pulled out of the tollgate.

Both vehicles suffered extensive damage and 17 people were pronounced dead at the scene.

Seven died while being transported to Beitbridge District Hospital 21km away, district medical officer Dr Lenos Samhere said.

Over 30 people were being treated at local health facilities, with 12 of them in critical condition, Samhere added.