Five die in Ntchisi ambulance accident

Five people, including a referral patient to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, died while 13 others sustained injuries after an ambulance was involved in a road accident in Ntchisi on Saturday.

National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo said in an interview the ambulance was involved in the accident soon after leaving Ntchisi District Hospital, rushing to KCH, as the driver attempted to avoid hitting a child who was apparently crossing the road.
She said the ambulance hit the child and a pick-up which was parked, with passengers on board.

Said Manjolo: “Three women in the pickup died. Also dead was the child the ambulance attempted to avoid and the patient in the ambulance on referral.”

In a statement yesterday, Ntchisi Police Station spokesperson GladsonM’bumpha identified the ambulance driver as Frazer Phiri, 35.

Police further identified the patient who died in the accident as ElidaChimimba, 26, who had a maternal complication.

Besides Chimimba and Elvis Gadama, 12—the boy the ambulance attempted to avoid, Ntchisi Police identified the other deceased persons as Alice Zimba, NasiketiChakupila, 39, and Salome Mtema, 37.