News / Regional
Joburg bound bus accident, 17 injured
29 Mar 2014 at 08:32hrs | Views
Seventeen people were injured - seven of them seriously -when a Johannesburg-bound Hi-Tech Trans Motors bus veered off the road and landed on its right side on Thursday, some 33km before Beitbridge town.
The accident occurred as the driver attempted to avoid ploughing into a herd of cattle at around 7pm.
A police officer close to the investigations said the injured were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital, from where seven were referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals.
He said the bus was travelling from Harare to Johannesburg with 39 passengers.
"We suspect that the driver was speeding and when they were 33km before Beitbridge Border Post, he spotted a herd of cattle on the road. He then avoided hitting the animals and swerved to the right side. In the process he lost control and the bus veered off the road and landed on its right side," said the police officer.
Matabeleland South medical director Dr William Busumani said 10 passengers were treated for minor injuries and discharged.
"Five people are in critical conditions at UBH while two others are in a stable condition. We treated 10 others for minor injuries and discharged them yesterday at Beitbridge Hospital," he said.
Hi-Tech Trans Motors Operations manager Mr Innocent Kujeke said they organised alternative transport for those who wanted to continue with their journey or travel back to Harare.
A few weeks ago, 22 people were injured, four of them seriously, when a Mzansi Bus they were travelling on was involved in an accident at the 60km peg on the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Highway.
Last year, six people were killed while 30 others were seriously injured when a Pioneer Bus ploughed into a herd of cattle at the 40km peg on the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
The accident occurred as the driver attempted to avoid ploughing into a herd of cattle at around 7pm.
A police officer close to the investigations said the injured were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital, from where seven were referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals.
He said the bus was travelling from Harare to Johannesburg with 39 passengers.
"We suspect that the driver was speeding and when they were 33km before Beitbridge Border Post, he spotted a herd of cattle on the road. He then avoided hitting the animals and swerved to the right side. In the process he lost control and the bus veered off the road and landed on its right side," said the police officer.
Matabeleland South medical director Dr William Busumani said 10 passengers were treated for minor injuries and discharged.
"Five people are in critical conditions at UBH while two others are in a stable condition. We treated 10 others for minor injuries and discharged them yesterday at Beitbridge Hospital," he said.
Hi-Tech Trans Motors Operations manager Mr Innocent Kujeke said they organised alternative transport for those who wanted to continue with their journey or travel back to Harare.
A few weeks ago, 22 people were injured, four of them seriously, when a Mzansi Bus they were travelling on was involved in an accident at the 60km peg on the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Highway.
Last year, six people were killed while 30 others were seriously injured when a Pioneer Bus ploughed into a herd of cattle at the 40km peg on the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
Source - The Herald
