A 25-year-old man is lucky to be alive after he was hit by a train while walking along the railway line at Mpopoma Transit Yard in Bulawayo.
Confirming the incident that occurred on Sunday on their Facebook page, the National Railways of Zimbabwe revealed that the man was wearing earphones while walking on the railway line. He apparently didn’t hear the approaching train’s warning honk when the tragic accident occurred.
The man suffered serious injuries in the train accident, including a broken hand and head injuries.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe urged the public to exercise extreme caution when walking near or around railway tracks.
“The man was putting on earphones and apparently did not hear the approaching train. He sustained a broken hand and head injuries. The NRZ urges members of the public to exercise extreme caution on and around railway tracks.”
However, this incident isn’t an isolated case. In 2022, a 17-year-old was hit by a train while walking along the Harare-Mutare railway line near the 253km peg in Ruwa.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police issued a statement cautioning pedestrians against using earphones while walking, following this tragic accident.
“The public is warned against putting on headphones or earphones while walking on the roads or crossing railway lines, as this may diminish the ability to perceive or hear, thereby increasing the likelihood of being struck by a motor vehicle or train.”
“The ZRP is investigating a fatal incident in which a 17-year-old juvenile was hit by a train while walking along the Harare-Mutare railway line, putting on earphones, at the 253km peg in Ruwa on Saturday at around 7.55 am,” reads the statement.
Source:Iharare
