2013 Chibombo bus crash
Chibombo bus crash | |
---|---|
![]() Location of Central Province in Zambia | |
Details | |
Date | 7 February 2013 |
Location | Central Province |
Country | Zambia |
Statistics | |
Deaths | 51[1] |
Injuries | 28 |
On 7 February 2013, a bus collided with a semi-truck and a sport utility vehicle on the Great North Road,[2] between the towns of Chibombo and Kabwe in the Central Province of Zambia,[3] resulting in the deaths of 49 of the 73 persons on the bus,[4][5] and of the truck driver and his assistant.[6][7][8] A further 28 people were injured.[3]
The crash was one of the worst in the history of Zambia, and was compared to a 2005 bus accident in which 38 high school students died and another 50 were seriously injured.[7]
Details
The 74-seat bus, operated by Zambia Postal Services, left Ndola, in the Copperbelt Province at 04:30 CAT,[3] and was heading toward Zambia's capital, Lusaka.[2][8] The road connecting Lusaka to Tanzania is a two-lane highway known for having heavy traffic.[6] District Commissioner Priscilla Chisha reported that a sport utility vehicle attempting to pass the bus crashed head-on into an oncoming truck, sending it into the bus' path,[7] while a survivor of the accident stated that the bus swerved into the truck to avoid an oncoming vehicle.[8] Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Kanjela said that even hours after the crash it was not possible to enter the bus wreckage to determine if there were other trapped passengers.[7]
Criminal investigation
An official of the office of the vice-president told press that all the vehicles involved were speeding.[9] The driver of the SUV, a farm manager from South Africa, was arrested and charged with "51 counts of causing death by dangerous driving", according to Kanjela.[4][10]
Reaction
President Michael Sata offered his condolences to the families of the victims; "We pray that the Lord almighty grants the bereaved families comfort and strength during this very painful period."[7] Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni also offered condolences on behalf of the government, and pledged work would be done to minimise future tragedies.[11] On 8 February, the government declared three days of national mourning.[12]
South African President Jacob Zuma offered his condolences to the people of Zambia in a statement stating "Our hearts go out to the families, relatives and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts are with the injured as we wish them a speedy recovery."[5]
References
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- ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbcnews.com/50744164#50744164
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil). – Note: early news reported 53 fatalities. This figure of 51 is the number used by the police and the legal services.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).