TSHIKAMBE - A two-month old baby miraculously escaped death when a speeding vehicle crashed into the mud hut in which she was sleeping on Friday afternoon. Little Tshilisanani Divhele she escaped unhurt as the vehicle forced its way towards the bed on which she was sleeping. Fortunately, the vehicle stopped a few metres before it could crash into the sleeping child.

A large hole in the mud hut bears testimony to the horrible incident which nearly took the life of the innocent infant. What makes it more painful is that the mud hut is the family’s only shelter and they are now living with relatives in the village. The child’s mother, Ruth, said she was busy with her washing when the horrible incident happened.

“I just heard a big banging sound and in a very short space of time, the front part of the white Toyota bakkie was in the hut in which my daughter was sleeping. There was a very big cloud of dust and I was afraid that my daughter was dead. Although our furniture was destroyed, we are happy that the child was unhurt and healthy. Our kitchen utensils were also damaged and we do not know where we will get new ones because we are both un-employed.”

Ruth’s husband, Norman, says he was on his way to Valdezia when he received a call that he was needed urgently at home. “I could sense that there was something terribly wrong at home. I immediately rushed home and found the front part of the bakkie still inside the hut. There was a bemused throng of people watching in disbelief as our only hut was destroyed by the vehicle.”

The unemployed Norman says he is worried that he does not have a place to stay. “I have sought refuge with a relative who does not even have enough space for me, my wife and two kids…”

Insp Tendamudzimu Ramalivhana of the Tshaulu SAPS confirmed the incident and said that they have registered a case of reckless and negligent driving and their investigations are continuing.