The other pupil at Hillcrest Technical School who was involved in an accident and evacuated to Livingston General Hospital has died.
This brings the total number of deceased to seven.
Police Acting Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo has confirmed the death of the death adding that post-mortem will be conducted on Sunday on bodies that were deposited in Choma General Hospital Mortuary and will be transported to Livingstone.
Meanwhile, preliminary accident investigations conducted by the Road Transport and Safety Agency have revealed that the driver of the Mitsubishi Rosa registration number AJC 5110, Joseph Kafwimbi Mwape, caused the crash due to overspeeeding.
The report has further revealed that the crash happened when the driver of the bus was overtaking a stationed truck in the process hit into the same truck as he tried to get back to his lane upon seeing an oncoming motor vehicle.
The Agency has questioned the school authorities why the bus was allowed to move at night and therefore putting the lives of the pupils at risk.
The crash happened about 22:00 Hours in Choma near Kozo Lodge.
“We would therefore like to appeal to motorist to always exercise caution and patience when travelling at night. At night visibility is poor hence motorists should drive at moderate speed and ensure the road is fully visible,” says Frederick Mubanga, RTSA Spokesman.
This is very sad, and I feel for the families of the dead children. Please let us ensure that we scrutinize anyone who calls himself/herself a driver, especially anyone who will drive a school bus. Over-speeding? With other peoples’ children? Look at the pain created!
There are a number of factors at play here:
1. Traveling at night. Not exactly the best of choices
2. There was a stationary truck on the road. It is not uncommon to find stationary vehicles in the middle of the road in our country. Often times they don’t even have proper warning signs. Often it is branches spread out on the road.
3. Overspeeding.
A combination of these factors, and perhaps many other avoidable ones led to the tragic accident. In the end, the families have lost beloved children, and the country has lost potential leaders.
RIP
Too bad RIP future Leaders.
Where were the Police and their new Hyundai Patrol cars?, I ask because my heart bleeds with anger to see those cars being used for wrong purposes and im sure the Police never patrolled that area where the truck had broken down from or worse still they did but never took it seriously.
This tendency of acting only when lives are lost should come to an end and please probe the Choma traffic Officers on duty that night let them ascertain which area they patrolled that fateful night.
God Save Us.
Condolences to the bereaved families.
RIP
let the gvt sponsor the funeral as usual
Investigation by rtsa is worthless. You can’t blame the authorities for travelling at night. Just find something else
Mwe bantu, how do you overtake a stationary truck? Was the truck parked on the road? Ba RTSA please for once give a plausible explanation!
A verysad day for the sports fraternity. One of the pupils is from CHILILABOMBWE. A child of KONKOLA Blades assistant coach. Authorities should thoroughly investigate this matter. Condolences to the affected families and the school.
Am Realy in deep sorrow….especially that pupils at hillcrest are all of sound mind. It’s really a great loss. Drivers watch out……’!!! Human life is delicate hence take your business with that in your medulla oblangata.RIP vibrant pupils
toooo bad RIP