This is the tragic moment a struggling young female elephant is shot dead after threatening to kill people in the car that she fell on after an accident.

The collision, which killed one person inside and left the others crushed under the weight of the elephant that landed on top of the vehicle, occurred along Kazungula Road, approximately 25 miles from Victoria Falls, a city in Zimbabwe, on 23rd April.

A silver Toyota Isis carrying six people attempted to overtake a stationary vehicle that had halted to avoid a sub-adult female elephant.

Unaware of the danger ahead, the driver collided with the elephant, which then fell onto the car's roof, crushing it and forcing the vehicle about 100 metres (328 feet) into the bush.

All six occupants were trapped inside the wreckage for over 30 minutes.

Emergency services responded promptly, but the front-seat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

Video shows elephant who crashed with a car getting shot near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, April 23, 2025. One person died and five were injured. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (CEN)

The remaining five passengers sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

To recover the deceased from the wreckage, rangers from the Department of Parks and Wildlife euthanised the injured elephant.

This action has sparked public debate, with conservationists questioning whether non-lethal alternatives, such as tranquilisation, could have been employed.

A conservation group highlighted that such incidents underline the need for wildlife crossings and proper road signage.

Kazungula Road is known as a wildlife corridor, with elephants and other animals frequently crossing the unfenced area.

Despite this, the stretch reportedly lacks adequate safety measures, such as warning signs or barriers, raising concerns about driver and animal safety.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)