A woman died and five others were treated as outpatients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Qech) in Blantyre on Monday evening after a tanker collided with three other vehicles in Nyambadwe in the commercial city.
Ndirande Police Station spokesperson Mulimbika Chibisa said in an interview on Tuesday that Nelia Njobvu, 37, was pronounced dead on arrival at Qech after sustaining serious head injuries.
He said the accident involved an Iveco Trakker tanker registration PE 1244 which experienced brake failure and hit a Hino Dutro light lorry that had the deceased and other people along the Old Chileka Road.
“Six victims were rushed to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where five were treated as outpatients and one, Nelia Njobvu, 37, who had sustained serious head injuries by falling out of the vehicle, was pronounced dead upon arrival,” said Chibisa.
Qech deputy director responsible for clinical services Dr. William Peno confirmed that all the five were treated as outpatients on Monday evening.
According to an eyewitness Christopher Mmadi who sells used cars at the accident site, said the tanker, which was travelling from Magalasi direction heading to Blantyre, unexpectedly stopped functioning while in motion.
He said: “The driver tried to warn other road users by screaming ‘run away, run away,’ but his efforts could not yield the desirable results. Then it first collided with Mazda Axela, then a minibus before hitting the lorry that had about nine people.
“Following the impact, the woman [deceased], fell from the lorry and another Mazda Demio which was travelling from Blantyre direction, tried to avoid colliding with other vehicles and ran over her. Some well-wishers rushed the woman and others to the hospital.”
