Three people, including 38-year-old Elton Mulenga, have died following a tragic road traffic accident along the Great North Road in Kapiri Mposhi, while 15 others sustained serious injuries.
The accident occurred yesterday around 09:40 hours in the Luanshimba area when a Nissan Caravan minibus, registration number CAK 4236ZM, carrying 18 passengers, lost control and overturned into a drainage.
According to Zambia Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, the vehicle was being driven by 36-year-old Watson Sililo of Lusaka West and was en route to Kabwe at the time of the incident.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver, believed to have been speeding, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road to the right before overturning into a nearby drainage.
The impact of the crash resulted in the immediate death of three passengers at the scene.
The deceased have been identified as Elton Mulenga of Lusaka, an unidentified adult male, and a female juvenile whose identity has yet to be established.
Meanwhile, fifteen other passengers—comprising five males and ten females—sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited in the mortuary at Kapiri Mposhi Urban Hospital, awaiting identification and postmortem examinations.
Police have since launched investigations into the accident.
Authorities have also urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads, particularly by observing speed limits and adhering to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life.
“We urge all motorists to exercise caution, observe speed limits, and strictly adhere to road traffic regulations to prevent loss of life,” said Chilabi.
