Phalula accident claims two

Two people died on the spot on Sunday at Phalula in Balaka after two vehicles collided head-on.

The accident happened at around 4.45pm when a double cabin pickup was overtaking a bus this writer was travelling in from Lilongwe to Blantyre.

As the pickup was overtaking the bus at a bend just before Phalula Trading Centre, another vehicle was coming from the opposite direction and the two vehicles collided head-on.

The impact of the collision hurled the pickup towards the bus, damaging the bus’s radiator. The pickup then hit a pedestrian before it overturned. The pedestrian died on the spot.

Locals in the area identified the pedestrian as a student who was heading home from school where he had gone to prepare for his Junior Certificate of Education examinations.

A female passenger in the pickup also died on the spot, while about three other occupants in the same vehicle sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Balaka District Hospital.

The car had five passengers who sustained injuries of varying degrees, but none appeared to be life-threatening. The vehicle was slightly damaged.

After the crash, which saw locals rushing to the accident spot, female passengers on the bus started crying, fearing the worst. But the driver skilfully brought the bus to a halt, to everyone’s relief.

However, they started wailing and weeping again at the sight of two lifeless people and the wreck of the pickup, with its other occupants sprawled on the ground, bleeding profusely.

“No, no, no, this can’t be, this can’t be,” one female bus passenger sobbed hysterically as she spoke on her mobile phone to notify her relations about the accident.

The bus stopped for over half an hour to assist the injured. n