News / Africa
Bus en-route to Zimbabwe from SA kills five, dozens injured
30 Aug 2011 at 17:12hrs | Views
Five people were killed and dozens more were injured when a passenger bus overturned on a highway near the South African capital of Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon, emergency officials said.
The bus was en route to Zimbabwe. Most of the victims were Zimbabwean nationals.
The accident happened on the N1 highway near Carousel, north of Pretoria, when the bus veered off the road and overturned, skidding to a halt on its side. Around 40 people were on board the bus.
The N1 was closed temporarily as emergency personnel raced to rescue those still trapped.
South African emergency services used the jaws of life to get to free people still trapped inside the bus. The bus was en route to Zimbabwe. Most of the victims were Zimbabwean nationals.
Survivor, Jeremiah Mupfapaire says: "The bus was not moving too fast. It is just that the tyre burst and the driver swerved to dodge the bridge. But, the trailer got caught by the pillar of the bridge and the bus overturned."
The number of fatalities could increase. Tshwane Emergency Service Head, Joan De Beer says: "Thirty people were seriously injured, 14 people with minor injuries. Five people died and four are critically injured."
"Initial reports indicated that four people had been killed. The body of a fifth person has since been found," said Jeffrey Wicks, a spokesman for Netcare 911. "Several occupants of the vehicle had sustained critical injuries, ranging from chemical burns to multiple fractures. Approximately thirty-five people were injured in total."
Wicks said the victims of the accident were stabilized at the scene before they were transported by ambulance to Kalefong State Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital for further treatment.
"Common cause information suggests that a front wheel blow-out caused the driver to lose control of the passenger coach which pushed from the road and overturned," Wicks added. Police have launched an investigation.
Meanwhile, it will be difficult to conduct roadworthy tests on the bus because it is registered in Zimbabwe.
The bus was en route to Zimbabwe. Most of the victims were Zimbabwean nationals.
The accident happened on the N1 highway near Carousel, north of Pretoria, when the bus veered off the road and overturned, skidding to a halt on its side. Around 40 people were on board the bus.
The N1 was closed temporarily as emergency personnel raced to rescue those still trapped.
South African emergency services used the jaws of life to get to free people still trapped inside the bus. The bus was en route to Zimbabwe. Most of the victims were Zimbabwean nationals.
Survivor, Jeremiah Mupfapaire says: "The bus was not moving too fast. It is just that the tyre burst and the driver swerved to dodge the bridge. But, the trailer got caught by the pillar of the bridge and the bus overturned."
The number of fatalities could increase. Tshwane Emergency Service Head, Joan De Beer says: "Thirty people were seriously injured, 14 people with minor injuries. Five people died and four are critically injured."
"Initial reports indicated that four people had been killed. The body of a fifth person has since been found," said Jeffrey Wicks, a spokesman for Netcare 911. "Several occupants of the vehicle had sustained critical injuries, ranging from chemical burns to multiple fractures. Approximately thirty-five people were injured in total."
Wicks said the victims of the accident were stabilized at the scene before they were transported by ambulance to Kalefong State Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital for further treatment.
"Common cause information suggests that a front wheel blow-out caused the driver to lose control of the passenger coach which pushed from the road and overturned," Wicks added. Police have launched an investigation.
Meanwhile, it will be difficult to conduct roadworthy tests on the bus because it is registered in Zimbabwe.
Source - Sapa-dpa
