A tragic accident in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, claimed the life of a two-year-old girl after her father accidentally ran over her while reversing his vehicle in their yard on the morning of June 20, 2025.
The incident occurred around 8:43 a.m. in Hendricourt, Kensington, when the 55-year-old man was maneuvering his Toyota Hilux Double Cab. As he moved forward after reversing, the front left side of the vehicle struck the toddler, and the front wheel ran over her. The child died instantly from head injuries, police confirmed.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the accident was preventable and resulted from the driver’s failure to keep a proper lookout. “The man was reversing his vehicle when he moved forward and hit the child. She sustained head injuries and died on the spot,” she said. The identities of those involved have not been released, and investigations are ongoing. The incident has deeply shocked the local community.
Later the same day, a six-year-old girl was injured in a separate road accident near Mbokodo Abattoir along the Bulawayo–Plumtree Road. A 53-year-old South African driver swerved to avoid the child, who had suddenly run into the road, causing a head-on collision with another vehicle. The girl was knocked down by the impact and sustained bruises to her forehead. She was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital and is in stable condition. No one in the vehicles was hurt.
In response to both accidents, police have urged motorists and parents to exercise greater caution. Inspector Msebele stressed the importance of checking around vehicles before moving and called on parents to closely supervise their children, especially near roads. “We urge motorists to always check around and underneath their vehicles before moving, especially in residential areas,” she said. “Parents must monitor their children closely and never allow them to cross roads alone.”
