3 dead, several injured in Nkhata Bay accidents

Three people have been confirmed dead while several others were seriously injured in two road accidents, in Nkhata Bay District on Sunday afternoon.

Nkhata Bay Police spokesperson Ignatius Esau said the first accident involved a vehicle travelling from Nkhata Bay to Chintheche which hit and killed six-year-old Badson Mwakatundu as he crossed the road at Phiri CCAP Church.

Esau said the second accident occurred at Sanga Trading Centre, involving an Isuzu truck carrying 51 passengers from Chintheche to Vizara.

The driver allegedly failed to engage the right gear causing the truck to reverse uncontrollably to a nearby stream, killing 31-year-old Catherine Banda on the spot.

A second passenger, 20-year-old Menard Phiri ,was confirmed dead upon arrival at Nkhata Bay District Hospital. Both the deceased came from Longwe Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Fuka Malaza in the district.

Police have identified the two drivers, who are currently in police custody, as Henry Chiwale and Prescott Masongole of Liphuta Village, T/A Nkalo in Chiradzulu District and Chizungwi Village, T/A Nsamala in Balaka District respectively.

The two will appear in court soon to answer charges of reckless driving contrary to Section 126 of the Road Traffic Act.