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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
FOURTEEN people cheated death on Sunday night when a kombi they were travelling in overturned opposite Southwold Shopping Centre in Bulawayo.

The Toyota Hiace ‘Tshova Mubaiwa’ kombi overturned and rolled once, landing on its left side after a Nissan Sunny rammed into it before fleeing from the scene.

The 12 passengers and the driver, who all sustained various injuries, were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Only one passenger escaped unhurt.

The accident occurred at around 8PM after the driver of the Nissan Sunny, who was driving towards the Dunlop turn off, failed to give way at the intersection and as a result, hit the kombi on the driver’s side causing it to overturn.

Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm that a road traffic accident occurred along Plumtree Road, opposite Southwold Shopping Centre. The driver of a Nissan Sunny failed to give way at the intersection, ramming into the kombi resulting in it overturning. The 13 casualties who sustained different degrees of injuries were all conveyed to UBH where they are receiving treatment.

“The driver of the Nissan Sunny sped off from the scene,” he said.

Mr Peterson urged motorists to observe road rules and exercise utmost caution at all times to avoid accidents.

“It is unfortunate that the carelessness of one driver almost killed 14 people and the worst part is that the driver then decided to flee from the scene, meaning he knows he was very wrong,” he said.

@winnie_masara