Three people including a 2-year-old boy and a driver have died, while others sustained injuries after a vehicle they were traveling in was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry at Thiwi Leisure Centre, Mpingu, at around 15:00 hours on Saturday, 4 May 2024.
According to Lilongwe Police Station Public Relations Officer Inspector Hastings Chigalu, the deceased have been identified as Kelvin Momani, 28, (driver), Tadala Shadreck, 2, and unidentified woman, (passengers).
Chigalu said that Tennis Likaomba, 46, was driving a Nissan Diesel Lorry registration number MG 926A belonging to the Ministry of Justice, from the direction of Mpingu heading towards M’bwatalika along the Lilongwe-Mchinji M12 road.
Upon arrival at Thiwi Leisure Centre, he started overtaking, and in the process he collided head-on with the on-coming Honda Freed Hatchback vehicle registration number BZ 3327, that was being driven by Kelvin Momani (deceased), who had seven passengers onboard.
Following the impact, Honda Freed driver (Momani), sustained severe head injuries and multiple fractures, two passengers Shadreck and unidentified woman, sustained severe head injuries. They were all pronounced dead upon arrival at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH).
Five passengers from the Honda Freed vehicle escaped with various degrees of injuries. They are currently receiving medical attention at the said referral hospital.
Preliminary investigations into the accident have established that the driver of the lorry, Tennis Likaomba, was driving the vehicle under the influence of intoxicated liquor. He texted 0.83 milligrams of alcohol intake, which is beyond the required limit for anyone who is driving.
Likaomba who hails from Chilepa Village, T/A Kwataine, Ntcheu, is currently in police custody and will appear in court on Monday, to face three counts of Causing Death by Reckless Driving, Causing Serious Injuries, and Driving Motor vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol.
The deceased, Kelvin Momani hailed from Mbamba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Khombedza, Salima, Tadala Shadreck hailed from Nkhomphola Village, T/A Mavwere in Mchinji District.
