MIDWEEK REPORTER
BIRCHENOUGH BRIDGE-An overzealous driver with seven passengers on board a twin cab caused the death of a 13 year old boy as he attempted to cross a flooded river near Birchenough Bridge on Boxing Day.
Glen Munoshamisa Jambaya of Gumira Village under Chief Chamutsa in Buhera drowned as the Toyota Hilux twin cab which was driven by Ladicilous Summon Owen Tarindwa (33) of Nechishanye Village under Chief Chimutsa in Buhera was swept away by the raging waters flowing across Bonda River Bridge at around 6pm along Chapanduka gravel road.
According to Manicaland Province acting ZRP spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, Tarindwa who had seven passengers attempted to cross flooded Bonda River Bridge.
As he approached the middle of the bridge the vehicle was swept by water and fell on its side and the driver and the passengers managed to get into the loading box.
After sometime the water became more strong as it continued to rain and other passengers and the driver managed to swim to the shores of the river, unfortunately the boy failed to do the same and was swept away.
A search party by villagers who had gathered to help the victims failed to yield anything.
On December 27 at around 6am his body was spotted floating in Bonda River by Tinashe Jambaya of Gurura Village under Chief Chimutsa in Buhera, 6km from the bridge where the accident had happened.
Jambaya called other villagers and they managed to retrieve the body and took it to the Police who conveyed it to Birchenough Bridge Hospital for postmortem.
Four other passengers sustained injuries in the accident and were treated at Birchenough Bridge Hospital and discharged.
The Civil Protection Unit has been warning drivers and the public to desist from crossing flooded rivers or other water bodies as they risk being swept away or drown.
