A Tanzania-Zambia Railway train has hit a minivan vehicle killing eight people on the spot.
The horrid accident occurred on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at the Kasenga Rail Crossing section of the Mpika District in Zambia.
According to eyewitnesses, the Toyota Noah Minivan which had carried 13 passengers failed to stop at the railway crossing and was hit by the oncoming Tanzania-Zambia (TAZARA) train.
Seven people were reportedly killed on the spot upon the impact.
Six other passengers were seriously injured and rushed to Chilonga Mission Hospital where one of them died while undergoing medical treatment.
The Zambian Assistant Police Public Relations officer Godfrey Chilabi confirmed the incident, explaining that the accident involved a TAZARA train and a Toyota Noah minibus, with registration number BCB 9391.
According to Chilabi, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway train, which was traveling from Mpika District heading to Serenje, was being operated by a locomotive driver identified as Daniel Bwalya.
The train hit the minivan and dragged it for several meters before managing to stop, leaving the car badly smashed and the people in it dead.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that there were 13 people aboard the Toyota Noah, including the driver. The accident occurred when the vehicle failed to stop at the rail crossing and was hit by the train which was by then arriving at the section,” the Police Spokesperson stated.
Police reports affirm that seven people, in the Toyota Noah Minivan, including the driver, were killed on the spot.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Enock Daka.
All the people who were traveling in the car were coming from Lumbatwa Village heading to the Mpika Central Business District.
It seems the small Toyota Noah was operating as a taxi.
Among the dead victims there were five adults and two children.
On the other hand, six passengers, including five adults and one child, sustained injuries and were rushed to Chilonga Mission Hospital, where one of them later died.
Bodies of dead victims have been preserved in the Chilonga Mission Hospital mortuary, pending post-mortem.
The Police in Zambia say they were investigating the incident urging motorists and other road users to exercise extreme caution when approaching and crossing railway tracks.