Police charge 74-year old farmer with 51 counts of causing death in Chibombo accident

Police have charged Vandeem Abraham, a 74-year old famer of Mkushi with 51 counts of causing death by dangerous driving in the horror that killed people in Chibombo on Thursday.

Inspector General of Police Stella  Libongani  ‘from our investigations the driver of the Land Cruiser Mr. Vandeem Abraham is the cause of the accident and has since been charged with 51 counts of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 of the laws of Zambia.’

She said the accident the accident happened when the driver misjudged the distance and attempted to over take the bus that was coming from Ndola and that  in the process the LandCruiser hit into the on-coming truck which in turn lost control and hit into the Post Bus that was coming from the opposite direction.

She said ‘Involved were a Post Bus registration number ABV 4020 driven by [Chongo] Chiluba, and a truck registration number 1792 AB 05 horse and 1793 AB 05 trailer driven by Joseph Kasongo . Also involved is a Toyota Landcruiser registration number ABH 2214 driven by Van eeden Abraham aged 74 of farm number 1468 Mkushi farm.

Libongani said 47 people from the bus died on the spot while two others died on the way to Liteta and U.T.H bringing the number to 49 people from the bus while two bodies were retrieved from the truck hence the total number of all those that have died in the accident comes to 51.

‘Among the 12 refered to U.T.H two of them have been discharged while 10 are still receiving treatment. Two casualties are in Kabwe Hospital while two that were in Liteta have been discharged. The total number of casualties that are still receiving treatment therefore comes to 12.

‘According to Post Bus officials, the bus left its initial starting point Ndola with 73 people on board that is 71 passengers, the driver and his assistant.

She said thirty bodies have since been identified and  appealed to members of the public that might have a relative/friends travelling from Ndola, Kapiri, Kabwe to Lusaka and have not reached to report to the nearest police.