FRANCISTOWN: A ghastly motor accident has claimed the lives of two Zimbabwean men while six sustained various degrees of injuries along the A1 Highway. Confirming the incident, Francistown Police Station traffic officer, Tomeletso Poloka said the horrific accident took place on Saturday evening.

He described the accident as fatal. Poloka said the accident involved a Nissan Elgrand which was travelling from the Ramokgwebana border side along the A1 towards Francistown. He indicated that the driver of the Nissan Elgrand lost control of the car just before the Dumela Industrial turnoff.

“There were 15 people in the car including two children aged between 11 and 17 years of age. We suspect that some of the occupants are from Zimbabwe as they produced Zimbabwean passports and identity cards,” added the traffic officer. He said that two men aged 37 and 40 years respectively, who are suspected to be from Zimbabwe, lost their lives on the spot whereas six other people sustained serious injuries and seven were treated and discharged on the same day. Poloka indicated that the driver who is Motswana was treated and discharged on the same day but was later readmitted to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital because he was complaining of back and chest pains. He shared that the driver was tested for alcohol consumption which came back negative. Poloka was concerned about speeding more especially when the festive season approaches.

He said in most cases when there is a fatal accident and the driver is sober, the accident will be caused by overspeeding.

“If one is driving at a moderate speed and there is an accident there are chances that everyone survives. It is also important for the motorist to service their car,” he added. Investigations on the matter are still ongoing.