Marymount girls’ accident driver fined

The driver of a bus, which carried Marymount Girls Secondary School learners which was involved in an accident earlier this month, has been sentenced to pay a cumulative fine of 1.450 million kwacha or in default serve a 2 year jail term.

The Mzuzu First Grade Magistrate Court has passed the sentence.

Duncan Folotiya Ngwende, aged 44 was answering several charges that contravene some sections of the Road Traffic Act.

The charges included causing death by reckless driving, contrary to section 126 (1) as read with section 126 (4), causing injuries by reckless driving contrary to Section 126 (1) as read with Section 126 (4) (c) and contravening with a Road Service Permit, which breaches Section 83 as read with Section 167 of the Road Traffic Act.

Magistrate McKnight Makaika found Ngwende guilty of 6 counts that include 2 counts of causing death by reckless driving, 3 counts of causing injuries by reckless driving and one count of contravening road service permit.

Makaika fined Ngwende K350 000 for each of the two counts of causing death by reckless driving, and K200 000 for each of the three counts of causing injuries and a further K150 000 on one count of contravening with a Road Service Permit.

Two students from Marymount Girls Secondary School lost their lives while several others sustained both major and minor injuries in the accident that happed at Luviri in Mzimba District.

The bus, a Scania Iriza registration number SA 10038 belonging to Paniche Logistics, with 58 passengers on board, was involved in an accident after Ngwende lost control due to speeding.

Police arrested Ngwende who sustained minor injuries in the accident for causing the accident.

Meanwhile, reports reaching Capital FM indicate that Ngwende has paid the fine in full.