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Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
A driving instructor, returning from a road test at the Plumtree Vehicle Inspection Depot, died along with two student drivers when their car was involved in a horrific head-on collision along the Bulawayo- Plumtree Highway yesterday.
The trio died on the spot in an accident in which four other people were injured.
The driving school vehicle collided with a Toyota Condor, about 10 km from Bulawayo at about 4PM at a narrow bridge just after Mazinyane Butchery.

The instructor identified only as Madzibaba, of Anesu Driving School, was driving from Plumtree where his students underwent road tests.

Madzibaba, according to witnesses, was driving a Toyota Vitz with three passengers when he allegedly tried to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic.

The Condor flew off the road and landed on its side on impact, seriously injuring three passengers.
“He was trying to overtake, so he encroached on the other lane resulting in the head on collision. All the men in the Vitz died and only one woman survived but she was hurt badly. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance, together with three passengers in the Condor,” said Nolwazi Sibindi, who witnessed the crash. She said the Vitz was crushed and a fire brigade crew had to cut through the wreckage to retrieve the bodies.

“It was traumatising. The driver was bleeding through the nose and blood was gushing from his mouth.
“The passengers had multiple scars and I think they died on the spot,” she said.

Sibindi said the driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries.
When Chronicle visited the scene, there was a traffic jam and curious motorists were trying to get a glimpse of the bodies. Police had covered the bodies with blankets and were loading them onto a pick-up truck.

The Fire Brigade crew was hosing away blood from the road while the wrecks were being towed away.
There was sombre atmosphere as family members of the victims arrived at the scene.

The family members could not hold back their emotions as some of them cried uncontrollably.
Some learner drivers from Bulawayo prefer to go for road tests in Plumtree and other smaller towns because of the perceived ease they can acquire driver’s licence.

Government at one time cancelled licences acquired in the sugar farming town of Chiredzi because of underhand dealings by VID inspectors at the depot.