The man and his wife, reportedly walking along the island dividing the dual carriageway, died instantly after being struck by the out-of-control haulage truck, triggering a chain of events that culminated in widespread fatalities.

The devastating collision, which also involved a commuter omnibus (kombi), occurred on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Hunyani Bridge near Water Works.

Haulage Truck Lost Control, Struck Pedestrians, Then Crushed Kombi

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the 30-tonne haulage truck, with two occupants, was travelling towards the Harare Central Business District when its driver, Desire Madariko (56), lost control. The massive vehicle then veered dangerously into the oncoming traffic lane.

Pedestrian Couple Among First Victims as Haulage Truck's Deadly Path Unfolds

The ZRP confirmed the sequence of events in a statement: "The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that 17 people died after a haulage truck travelling towards the Harare Central Business District with two occupants on board lost control and veered onto the oncoming lane. The truck hit two pedestrians who were walking on the island of the road. The pedestrians died on the spot."

Moments after this initial impact, the truck reportedly collided head-on with a Nissan Caravan kombi that was travelling in the opposite direction towards Chitungwiza, carrying 17 passengers. The force of the crash was catastrophic, dragging the kombi off the road before the truck overturned and landed directly on top of the minibus, completely trapping and crushing all passengers underneath its immense weight.

Police confirmed that 15 people inside the kombi, including its driver, died at the scene due to the severity of the impact.

Four Miraculously Survive, Including Truck Driver and Passenger

Despite the widespread fatalities, four individuals miraculously survived the crash. Three passengers from the kombi sustained injuries and were rushed to Chitungwiza Hospital for immediate treatment.

The truck driver, Desire Madariko, also survived, sustaining neck injuries and receiving medical attention at the same hospital. A passenger who had been in the truck also escaped with injuries.

In total, authorities have confirmed that the deceased include 10 females and 7 males. Their bodies were transferred to the Chitungwiza Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations, while the injured continue to receive medical care at the same facility.

The tragic loss of life, particularly the immediate fatalities of the pedestrian couple and the kombi occupants, underscores the devastating consequences of such road accidents.