Five people have died in a road accident involving a bus at Zolozolo in Mzuzu on Tuesday.

Mzuzu Police Publicist, Martin Bwanali, told YFM online that the accident happened after the driver of the Tata bus, Yona Pundi, engaged a wrong gear as the bus was ascending at Zolozolo Bridge.

Bwanali said in the process the bus started descending backwards before plunging into the river.

He said two male and three female passengers who sustained severe multiple fractures were pronounced dead upon arrival at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

“Three male and one female passengers escaped with serious injuries and fourteen others escaped with minor injuries,”

Bwanali identified some of the victims as Sam Gondwe, 28yrs, from Jalani Gondwe village, and Esther Ng’oma from Chibisa village all from Traditional Authority Mtwaro in Mzimba district.