5 die in Lilongwe road accidents
Five people, including an unidentified 10-year-old child, died in two separate road accidents in the capital city yesterday, Lilongwe Police have said.
Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said one accident, in which three pedestrians died, occurred just outside Lilongwe City Mall (Game Complex) when a lorry registration CK 3680 driven by Biliati Kapola lost control after its brakes failed to function.
He said the lorry plunged into another vehicle and killed two unidentified women and a man on the spot.
Said Dandaula: “The driver was coming from the Air Wing to collect sand. After reaching Crossroads Mall, he noted that the vehicle had a problem with brakes, but he continued driving towards Old Town where he lost control on reaching the Game Complex.”
The other accident occurred at Kandikole in Area 36 around 9am when the owner of the vehicle registration BT 4691 left his key in the ignition and another man only identified as Harry attempted to move it to create parking space.
According to police, while the driver was moving the vehicle, he hit a car, registration BR 4646 and knocked down 50-year-old Mercy Chibweya and a 10-year-old boy identified as Gerald Binali.
Chibweya came from Chituka Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malenga in Nkhotakota. Particulars for the other four deceased persons are not yet known.
Kapola and Harry are currently in police custody pending a court hearing. They have been charged with causing deaths through reckless driving.
Kapola comes from Kabwinja Village, T/A Chakhadza in Dowa while Harry is from Mbera Village, T/A Kachenga in Balaka.
