Six family members have died after a vehicle they were traveling in plunged into Naming’azi River along the M1 near Phalula in Balaka District.

Balaka Police Station spokesperson Mphatso Munthali said the vehicle, a Toyota Ipsum registration BR 9652, was driven by Arkford Kamchokolo Mkundika, 59, from Mtali Village, Traditional Authority Kapolo in Lilongwe.

He said they suspect that the driver lost control of the vehicle and swerved offside where it landed into a flooded stream and sunk.

“He was driving from the direction of Phalula heading to Zalewa with five family members on board. Upon reaching Naming’azi the driver lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the river. The driver and all five family members died on spot,” said Munthali

The vehicle which the family was travelling in

Police have identified the other deceased as McDonald Mkundika, Mirriam Mkundika, Manderena Mkundika, Yona Mkundika and Precious Mkundika.

Malawi is registering a spike in road accidents with police indicating that 1 529 people have died while 573 sustained injuries in 5 553 road accidents that happened between January and December 2022.

Between January and December 2021, police recorded 1 444 fatalities from 9 416 road accidents while in 2020, there were 1 221 deaths from 10 799 reported road accidents.

This means the 2022 fatality rate is the highest over the past three years despite road accidents declining by 43 percent compared to the year before. And the 1 529 deaths are equivalent to at least 21 busloads of passengers.

According to the 2022 road accident report, saloons killed more people compared to trucks and buses.

National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza attributed the accidents in 2022 to reckless driving.

He said accidents were mainly as a result of over speeding, careless overtaking, ignoring traffic rules and driving under the influence of alcohol.

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