Harrowing video shows elephant charging truck during African safari, killing American tourist

Shocking footage has captured the moment a 5-ton bull elephant charged at a safari vehicle, flipping it over and killing a tourist.

Shocking footage has captured the moment a 5-ton bull elephant in Zambia charged at a safari vehicle — flipping it over several times and killing an 80-year-old American woman during an expedition.

The unidentified woman was among six tourists with the group Wilderness Zambia who were out on a photography tour Saturday when they came under attack by the elephant, the Telegraph reported.

“At around 9.30am on Saturday morning the six guests were on the game drive when the vehicle was unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant,” Wilderness Zambia CEO Keith Vincent said in a statement.

Distressing footage captured by a passenger shows the elephant barrelling toward the vehicle as it cruises along a bush-lined road before suddenly stopping when its path was blocked.

The passenger continues to record as the animal lunges at the vehicle and flips it over.

The elephant seen approaching the vehicle. Picture: X/ginnydmm

It then attacked the safari truck, leaving an American woman dead. Picture: X/ginnydmm

The elderly woman later died of her injuries while another woman remains hospitalised.

The other four guests were treated for minor injuries after the violent attack.

“Our guides are all extremely well-trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” Vincent said.

The truck seen toppled over after the elephant attack. Picture: X/ginnydmm

Kafue National Park’s management sent a helicopter to the scene to evacuate the victims.

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident,” Vincent added.

The group was reportedly staying at the luxurious Lufupa Camp in the Kafue National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa.

African Parks, which manages the park, also controls 22 other wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.

The tour group was making arrangements to return the woman’s body to the US, the Nigerian Bulletin reported.

Last month, another elephant was captured charging at a safari vehicle and trying to flip it.

The open-air truck, which had passengers seated in the back half of the vehicle, was lifted off the ground as the elephant pushed again and again in an attempt to flip the truck off its wheels.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Harrowing video shows elephant charging truck during African safari, killing American tourist