11 other people have escaped with various degrees of injuries.

Dowa Police station spokesperson Gladson M’bumpha confirmed the accident occurred at Lumbadzi Bridge along Salima-Lilongwe road.

He said on Monday, around 5 pm, Steve Matandika was driving a Nissan Vannet, registration number LL1066, from the direction of Salima going towards Lilongwe with 14 passengers on board.

Upon reaching rumble surfaces near Lumbadzi Bridge, the driver lost control of the vehicle resulting in veering into the river.

Said M’bumpha, “due to the impact, 13 passengers sustained various injuries while three female passengers were confirmed dead at Chankhungu Health Centre in Dowa District due to severe head injuries.”

He identified the two deceased persons as Magret Msenga, aged 46, of Kalulu Village in Traditional Authority Chimutu and Egifa Mnjolo aged 35 of Mwenda Village in Traditional Authority Malili, all from Lilongwe.

The third deceased person, he said, is yet to be identified.

The police spokesperson further said five passengers with serious injuries have been referred to Dowa District Hospital while six other passengers have been treated as out-patients at Chankhungu Health Centre.

The driver bolted and police have launched a manhunt.