A tipper truck operating at the Kitwe mineral slag dumb commonly known as Black Mountain has crushed a teenager chrome picker to death in Nkana West, Kitwe.
The 18 year old man died on the spot after a rear left tyre of a loaded Shacman Tipper Truck ran over him near near the Black Mountain on Thursday when he fell from the truck which was moving from the Black Mountain to one of the sites for chrome pickers.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Sharon Zulu has identified the deceased as Joshua Lombe who died on the spot after being ran over by a loaded Shacman Tipper Truck registration number BCD 5538 ZM which was being driven by Simwambi Samuel aged 39 of Ghandi Circle in Chambishi.
Ms Zulu narrated that the accident happened near Greek Olive in Nkana West residential area in Kitwe when Lombe allegedly tried to get on the moving truck so that he could pick up the chrome fell from the truck and was ran over by a rear left tyre of a loaded heavy truck.
“Yes, I can confirm that we had a fatal accident involving a Shacman Tipper Truck and a pedestrian. The accident happened when the truck was moving from the Black Mountain heading to 11th street. In the process, a pedestrian identified as Lombe Joshua who was trying to get on the truck fell down and was ran over by a rear left tyre of a loaded Shacman Tipper Truck,” Ms Zulu told the media.
The body of Lombe of house number B5-205 Wusakile Township in Kitwe has been deposited to Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) mortuary.
Meanwhile, quick action by police prevented his colleagues from rioting.
After news broke out that a chrome picker has died after he was ran over by a Truck near the Black Mountain, some his colleagues in Kandabwe area started looting vehicles which were using the Chibuluma and Kitwe-Kalulushi roads.
Unofficial reports from the Black Mountain indicate that a number of chrome pickers have been injured and admitted to Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) after being run over by Tipper trucks as they tried to jump on the moving trucks so that they pick up the chrome before it is offloaded to the four identified sites.
Almost three weeks ago, two pickers were injured and admitted to Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) with injuries after they were hit by a tipper truck which was offloading material from the Black Mountain at one of four identified sites behind the Kitwe Show Grounds.
Authorities at the Black Mountain reportedly concealed the incidents, as a number of people express concern over poor or no safety standards regarding operations at the Black Mountain.
Poor safety, health and the over speeding of the trucks are some of the major concerns by stakeholders who include Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya.
We didn’t lose a life under PF because PF was smart in terms of safety.
Youth empowerment at the expense of losing Iives. The mayor raised a lot of concerns, no one heard her because she is PF. Bwana mayor you are being vindicated.
Sad, another energetic youth gone. UPND and fikaisova approach.
PF STARTED THIS NONSENSE SO DONT RUN AWAY FROM THAT FACT
THIS SITE SHOULD BE CLOSED DOWN
We said it before……this minister on Mines and the black mountain? Kaya!!
Henry must have forgotten about the collapse where 70 (?) died a few years ago.
The drivers seem to have deterrent method of increasing speed when they spot the looters trying to jump onto the vehicle. A few other incidents have left some in hospital. Driver is at fault too in my opinion. Defensive driving is what causes most accidents, be it with pedestrians or other vehicles. If the driver saw the young man and sped up then he has a case to answer.
Condolences to the family.
I am not surprised …just look at the confusion in that photo…no Hi-vis jackets no clear in and out direction its like rush hour in Indian traffic with a thousand street vendors. I bet you even the HGV drivers are not even qualified…the boys take turns driving them.
Leave PF out of this nosense. It is these same youths that voted for UPND with the promise of Jobs. Now look at the jobs they have falling under tipper trucks.
ALL THIS STEMS FROM PF
GET IT INTO YOUR DULL HEADS
IT’S IN PROCESS OF BEING RESTUCTURED
UNFORTUNATELY THE MINISTER IS DRAGGING HIS FEET !
ON THAT I DO AGREE
The solution is just to close the damn thing and seal it off. Pleasing people even when we see danger is murder in the first degree.
The mountain is a disaster waiting to happen. With the UPND wide eyed.
Why are you saying, “tried to get on the moving truck so that he could pick up the chrome” ?. Isnt the word stealing ?.