A Bishop and three other members of the Apostolic Faith Mission on Thursday afternoon died in a road accident at Bawi Nkhumba area along the Balaka-Ntcheu M1 road.

Police have identified the deceased as Bishop Eric Dauya aged 65 and his 66-year-old wife Mercy, Elizabeth Maonde aged 44 and her 22-year-old daughter Deborah.

Ntcheu Police Station Public Relations Officer, Inspector Jacob Khembo said the driver of the vehicle, Pastor Henry Maonde who was the husband to the late Elizabeth and father to the late Deborah was driving a Toyota Prado Station Wagon motor vehicle with registration number BL7781 from the direction of Chingeni to Ntcheu with five passengers on board.

“Upon arrival at Bawi Nkhumba area, the driver was trying to overtake a vehicle which also carried their church members and due to speeding, he lost control of the vehicle and swerved to the extreme offside, before overturning twice,” said Khembo.

Due to the impact, the four sustained severe head injuries while the driver and the other passenger escaped minor injuries.

The four were pronounced dead upon arrival at Ntcheu District Hospital while the two are admitted to the health facility.

Meanwhile, police in the district are appealing to motor vehicle drivers travelling along the road to strictly observe road signs and prevent over-speeding and unnecessary overtaking.

Bishop Dauya hailed from Chiluzi village while his wife was from Chambakata village in Traditional Authority (TA) Ganya in Ntcheu district while Elizabeth Maonde and her daughter Deborah hailed from Mkomeko village in TA Kasumbu in Dedza district.