Post Reporter
A CHIPINGE Junior School teacher died while 59 others were injured,
three of them seriously, when a hired Gold Class bus they were aboard was this afternoon involved in an accident at Crofton Farm along the Harare-Mutare Road, on the outskirts of Rusape.
The teacher died after being thrown out and trapped under the bus wreckage.
Injured passengers were rushed to Rusape General Hospital from where three pupils with serious head injuries were transferred to Harare Hospital for specialist care.
Makoni District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Tendai Nyafesa said the other
victims were admitted at Rusape General Hospital.
“At the moment were still busy treating the patients, most of whom escaped
with minor injuries, with the exception of three pupils who sustained serious head injuries that require special care. We will give you further details later,” said Dr Nyafesa.
Makoni District Development Coordinator, Mr Edwin Mashindi, who heads the district civil protection unit (CPU) said: “One teacher died after being trapped by the bus while three children who sustained serious head injuries were transferred to Harare Hospital.
“The rest of the victims have been admitted at Rusape General Hospital, and their condition is stable. Nobody has been discharged,” he said.
Makoni District Schools Inspector (DSI), Mr George Chidwakwa, who attended the scene, said the bus was carrying 53 learners, 6 teachers and a School Development Committee (SDC) member, who were returning from a school trip in Harare.
The accident occurred around 2:30pm.
“It is true that the bus carrying school children and teachers from Chipinge
Junior Primary School was involved in an in Rusape while on their way from Harare. The bus was carrying 53 school children, six teachers and an SDC member. We have one female teacher who died on the spot after being trapped under the bus,” he said.
The accident was attributed to an overtaking error on front of oncoming traffic, under slippery conditions, resulting in the driver losing control of the bus, which served off the road and landed on its side.
