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Leonard Ncube/Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporters
THREE police officers died on the spot while five people believed to be civilians were seriously injured when a Scania truck veered off the road and overturned along the Binga-Cross Dete Road on Wednesday afternoon.

The vehicle, branded in ZRP colours, landed on its roof in a ditch killing three on the spot.

Witnesses said the cops were travelling from Harare and used the Gokwe-Siabua road, which connects to Binga on their way to Hwange where they were stationed.

One of them is believed to be from Mberengwa while another is from Lupane.

Yesterday, there were reports on social media that four people had died, three of them cops while the fourth was a civilian.

In a statement, police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident that occurred just after midday but couldn’t specify whether the victims were police officers or not. “The Zimbabwe Republic would like to confirm the death of three people in a road traffic accident involving members of the police service which occurred at the 146.5km peg along Binga-Cross Dete road near Songwa Village in Dete on the December 7, 2016 at around 12.05hrs,” said Chef Supt Nyathi.“Circumstances are that a male adult aged 59 years was driving a Scania lorry due south towards Cross Dete with seven passengers on board. On approaching the 146.5 km peg the driver, who was speeding, lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road to the right and overturned before landing in a ditch on its roof.”

Chief Supt Nyathi said three died on the spot while five were injured.

“Three people including the driver sustained head injuries and died on the spot while five passengers were injured,” said the police spokesperson.

He said the injured were rushed to Hwange Colliery Hospital and St Patrick’s Hospital while the deceased’s bodies were taken to the same institutions’ mortuary.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to urge motorists to exercise caution on the roads. Speed thrills but kills. Drive safely to arrive,” said chief supt Nyathi

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