By Scoop Reporter
INVESTIGATIONS to ascertain the cause of a Power Tools bus accident that occurred last week and killed four people, among them, health personnel from Zambezi district who was carrying Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) samples was caused by dangerous driving by another driver.
Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga has today told The Scoop in a statement that according to the accident investigations conducted by the Agency, the analysis of the accident has established that the driver of another vehicle dangerously and improperly overtook the Power Tools bus.
Mr. Mubanga says the driver cut-in at a 240m curve before Mundanya bridge resulting in probable distraction occasioning the Power Tools bus driver hitting a pothole on the near-side of the road and thereby losing control of the bus which was equally at high speed.
He says an analysis of the human factor investigation supported by the recitation by one of the accident survivors Given Selenji, has further revealed that the driver of the other vehicle in question was racing against the Power Tools bus and both vehicles failed to yield to mandatory stop signs before the one-way Mundanya bridge due to inappropriate speed.
“From the foregoing, the driver of the other vehicle in question who caused probable distraction occasioning the Power Tools driver losing control of the bus will be reprimanded for causing an accident and failing to render assistance, with possible revocation of his Driving License.
“Further, all Power Tools bus drivers will be required to undergo in-house defensive driving training in order to improve journey management and driver behavior,” Mr. Mubanga said.
