Nkhotakota Road Accident Claims Six Lives

Six people died and eight others got injured in a road accident after the vehicle they were travelling in overturned in Nkhotakota Game Reserve on Thursday.

Police identified the deceased as Matthias Charles (39) of Kanyambi Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chilooko in Ntchisi District, Alex Zuze (35) of Jati Village, Sub TA Munyanja and Timeyo Nepha (59) of Muyomba Village, TA Chisemphere in Kasungu District.

The other deceased were Befia Mkokhwa (3), Asimini Dauda (45) and Chrissy Mlotha (32), all from Kalima Village in the area of Senior Chief Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota District.

Nkhotakota Police publicist Williams Kaponda said the motor vehicle pick-up Isuzu KB, registration number NU 656, was travelling from Kasungu to Nkhotakota with 14 passengers on board.

“Upon reaching Nkhotakota Game Reserve, the driver, Benjamin Mkandawire (34), lost control of the motor vehicle while descending a slope which made the vehicle to overturn.

“Due to the crash, four people died on the spot while the other two died while receiving treatment,” he said.

Kaponda said three people sustained seriously injuries while seven escaped with minor injuries.

Five of them were taken to Malomo Health Center in Ntchisi while two were rushed to Nkhotakota District Hospital.

Kaponda said the deaths occurred due to multiple head injuries, fractures and internal bleeding.

Nkhotakota has registered an increase in road accidents this year as, so far, 19 people have died against 15 people last year, same period.

Kaponda has attributed the increase in the accidents to bad roads, careless driving and limited road sign posts in the district.