Zimbabwe accident kills 18 on way to funeral

HARARE, Jun 6 (Reuters) A Zimbabwe police truck carrying mourners to a funeral veered off the road and hit a tree, killing 18 people, officials today said.

Police spokesman Inspector Andrew Phiri said 42 people were injured in the accident in Zimbabwe's northern district of Chirundu as the mourners travelled to the burial of an officer.

He did not say why the vehicle went off the road.

Last month 35 people died within three days on Zimbabwe's roads in a spate of accidents largely blamed on reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles.

Analysts say soaring prices are forcing Zimbabwe motorists to use worn-out tyres on their vehicles, while omitting crucial maintenance work, as the country struggles with a deepening economic crisis most aptly illustrated in having the world's highest inflation rate at 1,042.9 percent.

REUTERS DKS HT1902