2 students perish, 3 injured in Chongwe car crash
By Thandizo Banda
TWO university students have died while three others are fighting for their lives after the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and hit into a tree in Chongwe.
The tragedy comes barely a week after three Mulungushi University students perished in a separate road traffic accident on the Great North Road in Kabwe.
Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said the accident happened yesterday around 05:00 hours on Chalimbana Road in the Silverest area off Great East Road in Chongwe.
He said the accident involved five students from the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) and the Information and Communications University (ICU) who were travelling together in a Honda Fit, registration number BLD 5008.
Chilabi said the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve and the car veered off the road and struck a tree, causing extensive damage to the front of the vehicle and leaving all occupants injured.
Among the injured was Edify Chikumbi, a student at ICU, who was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The identity of the second student who died was not immediately available by press time.
“Edify Chikumbi believed to be between 22 and 26, was pronounced dead on arrival at Chongwe District Hospital. Maseka Chilapala, believed to be between 20 and 25, was pronounced dead on arrival at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
Chilabi said the driver identified as Patrick Musonda, 22, of Silverest, was rushed to Levy Mwanawasa with multiple injuries.
“Passengers Akufuna Mwituna, 21, and John Musenge were also admitted with multiple injuries,” Chilabi said.
Chilabi said police had opened an inquiry into the accident.
The remains of the deceased were taken to Chongwe and Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital mortuaries await postmortem examinations.
