. Katanga
By CHATULA KAMPO –
TWENTY-SEVEN people, among them 11 children have died after the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck they had boarded overturned on the Mbala – Nakonde Road in the Northern Province.
Northern Province Police chief Charity Katanga confirmed the tragedy that happened yesterday around 15:00 hours near a Chinese construction site, 29 kilometres away from Nakonde.
Ms Katanga said the accident happened after the driver of the truck, registration number ACX 5816, Vexious Bwalya Sichinga of Mpulungu District failed to negotiate a curve due to speeding.
“It is true that 27 people, 16 female and 11 children between the age of five and 12 have died in a fatal road accident. The truck was carrying 97 people who were destined for Nakonde,” she said.
Ms Katanga said all the people died on the spot, while the other 56 people who sustained injuries had been admitted to Mbala General Hospital.
She said the driver of the truck sustained bruises on his legs and was currently detained at Mbala Central Police.
