By Daily Revelation Reporter
Police and Levy Mwanawasa Hospital have asked members of the public to help identify a one year old baby at Levy Hospital whose mother died in an accident which happened yesterday in Lusaka’s Ibex area.
And police confirmed that three women died in the the accident that occured when the minibus they were on overturned twice due to excessive speed.
LMUTH public relations officer Chizongo Siachiwena stated that following the accident that happened, a baby below the age of two years was picked from the scene and taken to the hospital by a well wisher.
Siachiwena stated that the hospital and the police were appealing to members of the public with information that would assist in tracing relatives to the baby to report to the hospital or the nearest police station.
And police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga stated that the accident occured yesterday around 10:00 hours on Mosi Road.
He stated that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace minibus bearing registration number BAJ 3856, fleet number LSK 15183.
Hamoonga stated that the vehicle, which was extensively damaged, was being driven in an East-to-West direction by an unidentified male driver who fled the scene following the accident.
“On board the minibus were multiple passengers, including: 1. Ruth Museteka, aged between 20 and 24 years, a student at Woodlands Nursing School, who, along with two other unidentified female passengers, tragically succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary,” Hamoonga explained. “2. Two unidentified male adults sustained severe head injuries and remain admitted in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at UTH.”
Hamoonga stated that some passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees and were receiving medical care at UTH and Hilltop Hospital.
He stated that the injured included Arnold Chulu, 42, who sustained chest pains and facial bruises, Sandra Lusambo, 19 who reported chest and back pain, Constance Mutama, 27, who complained of shoulder and chest pains.
Others are Ruth Zulu, 64 who sustained chest pains, a swollen left leg, and a right wrist injury, Tonny Muzukila, 42, who suffered body bruises and neck pain, Joseph Muntanga, 43, sustained bruises on the right arm and chest pains,
Coriphas Mweetwa 30 of Makeni sustained a painful shoulder and neck and Dorcas Mwewa, 28, also of Woodlands Nursing School – sustained a painful neck, left-hand injury, and a cut on the head.
Hamoonga stated that preliminary investigations indicated that the accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle lost control due to excessive speed, causing the minibus to veer off the road to the left, overturned twice and came to a halt against a wall fence.
He state that the police was actively pursuing all available leads to locate the driver, who was believed to have abandoned the scene.
“We urge any individuals with relevant information to come forward to assist in the investigation. Our condolences go out to the families of the deceased, and we extend our sympathies to all affected by this unfortunate incident. The Zambia Police Service remains committed to enforcing road safety measures and urges all drivers to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits to prevent such tragic occurrences,” stated Hamoonga.