17 killed in Zambia truck accident

Seventeen people died today in southern Zambia when a light truck they were in hit a shop before turning over, a police chief said.

Southern province police commissioner Mary Chikwanda told AFP that a Canter truck carrying mainly fishermen from the capital Lusaka to Monze failed to stop at a traffic light and hit a Shoprite store in Mazabuka before overturning.

"The driver, who also died on the spot, was speeding and so he failed to stop at the traffic light and went straight into Shoprite. The Canter then overturned and 17 people died on the spot. The accident happened around 01:00 hours this morning," Chikwanda said.
 

Four others were admitted to hospital.

Mazabuka is approximately 130 kilometres south of the capital Lusaka. Light trucks are the most widely used mode of transport in the area.

Road tragedies are common in Zambia mainly because of speeding and the poor state of highways particularly in rural areas.