Police in Thyolo have confirmed that three people have died while 13 others have been injured following a road accident that occurred Friday morning when a three-tonner vehicle plunged into a ditch near the Satemwa turn-off along the Limbe–Thyolo–Limbuli Road.

Police Station Officer for Thyolo, Hanna Kachiwala, said the accident happened as the driver Emmanuel Nyirenda of the three-tonner Mitsubishi Canter, which was travelling from the Bvumbwe direction towards Thyolo Boma, attempted to avoid a Scania D4D truck that was overtaking a fuel tanker coming from the opposite direction.

“This forced the driver to swerve to the extreme left side of the road, and the vehicle overturned twice before plunging into a ditch,” she said.

Kachiwala added that the passengers in the Canter were employees of a North Workers Engineers Limited laying fibre cables along the road.

“All the 13 injured occupants have been admitted to Thyolo District Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. It's only passenger who sustained serious head injuries,” she said.

The police have identified the deceased as Maston Selekete, Lifa Chikopa, and Aubrey, whose other particulars are yet to be established.