Driver escapes with burns as fuel tanker catches fire

Lloyd Ndemo

A Zimbabwean truck driver sustained serious burns when his fuel tanker caught fire after sideswiping another vehicle in Nyazura, a settlement 150 km south-east of the capital, Harare, on Wednesday.

No fatalities were reported, and the trucker is in stable condition.

The Harare-bound truck was carrying 42 000 litres of petrol worth over US$50 000.  

Police said a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle encroached into the tanker’s lane, leading to the sideswipe.

Zimbabwe Republic Police provincial spokesperson Inspector Luxson Chananda said, “The truck driver sustained serious burns, but is in stable condition while the driver of the Land Cruiser sustained minor injuries.”

This is the second accident involving a fuel tanker in two months.

In February, another overturned in Harare, spilling 10 000 litres of diesel.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, about 90 percent of road accidents are a result of human error.