SIX suspected Highlanders Football Club supporters died and two were seriously injured when their pick-up truck overturned along Falcon Road in Esigodini

SIX suspected Highlanders Football Club supporters died while two others were seriously injured when a pick-up truck they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree along Falcon Road in Esigodini on Sunday evening. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the two who were injured were taken to the UnitedBulawayo Hospitals where they are still admitted.

“A Nissan pick-up was travelling along Esigodini-Falcon Road near Esigodini Business Centre with seven passengers on board. On approaching the 3km peg on the said road, the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered off to the right and rammed into a tree before landing on its wheels.

“Five passengers died on the spot and the other one died on admission to Esigodini District Hospital. Two other people were injured and are admitted to United Bulawayo Hospitals,” she said.

There was speculation that the accident victims had been drinking beer while celebrating Highlanders’ 2-1 win over Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium on the same day. A source in Esigodini yesterday said the five were Highlanders supporters, a claim The Chronicle could not independently confirm last night.

It was also not clear if all the accident victims had earlier been at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo to watch their team complete a double over Dynamos. When The Chronicle visited the accident scene along Falcon Road yesterday, the wreckage had been towed away, but empty beer bottles, shattered glasses and a teddy bear were scattered over the place.

In June, seven Dynamos fans died on the spot and three others later succumbed to injuries when an Iveco Sprinter they were travelling in burst a rear tyre, veered off the road and rolled three times in Battlefields while they were on their way to watch their team play against Chapungu FC in Gweru.—Bianca Mlilo and Douglas Ncube. source- Chronicle