A man died instantly after being struck and run over by a train at Melfort Bridge in Marondera on June 24, in a tragic incident confirmed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
Police said the accident occurred when the victim was sitting on the railway line as a train approached, leaving him with no time to escape.
Mashonaland East police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii said the incident took place at around 11pm when a Zimbabwe National Railways locomotive, registration number 34853, was travelling towards Mutare and was being driven by Wellington Pedzisai (55) of Cranbury Park, Harare.
“When the train arrived at Melfort Bridge, it hit an unidentified 25-year-old man and he was crushed to death,” said Inspector Chazovachii.
Emergency services from ZRP Marondera attended the scene and the body was taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination. Police said the deceased’s next of kin had not yet been identified.
Authorities have since urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution around railway lines, warning that trains can approach at any time and stopping is not possible over short distances.
Inspector Chazovachii also appealed to families searching for missing relatives to contact Marondera police to assist in identifying the deceased.
The fatal accident comes shortly after another major rail-related tragedy in Triangle earlier this month, where nine people died and 25 others were injured in a collision between a bus and a train at a level crossing.
In that incident, the Government declared the accident a National Disaster. The State assisted with burial arrangements for the deceased and medical treatment for the injured.
Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Triangle crash occurred when a bus travelling from Chiredzi to Masvingo failed to stop at a rail crossing, resulting in a deadly collision.
Authorities continue to emphasise road and rail safety awareness as a key measure to reduce avoidable loss of life across the country.
