Police in Mzimba have arrested a run-away driver who hit to death Officer-in-Charge (OC) for Chikangawa Police Post as he tried to escape arrest after being found stealing pine logs in Chikangawa Forest Reserve.
The accident happened at around 10:30pm on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Champhoyo in the forest reserve along the Mzuzu-Mzimba M1 road.
The deceased OC, Superintendent Frackson Makala, with his officers were on joint patrols with forestry officials when they received information of a truckload of pine logs being illegally driven out of the forest.
They followed the truck and found it at the said Champhoyo where, upon being ordered to come out of the vehicle, the driver of the lorry refused and instead started it, running over the OC who was in front.
He suffered multiple fractures on both legs and chest and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mzimba District Hospital.
The driver of the lorry, Proper Chirambo, who was in company of about five friends sped off the scene but was intercepted by police at Chauteka Area.
While his friends managed to jump out of the moving vehicle and disappeared in the cover of darkness, Chirambo failed and was immediately arrested.
He sustained head injuries as he jumped and tried to escape. He is currently admitted at Mzimba District hospital.
Meanwhile, investigations are underway to get more information from the him and arrest his fugitive friends.
The police is advising drivers and members of the public to always comply with police orders and directives when stopped, or during investigations.
Proper Chirambo, 30, hails from Zunguzungu Village, TA Chikulamayembe in Rumphi District.
