At least 11 people died and eight others were injured in a tragic road accident on the R102 near Lotus Park, south of Durban, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province. The incident involved a collision between a truck and a minibus taxi, leading to the deaths of 11 individuals, including a child. The crash occurred around 7:30 am local time, with the truck veering off the road during the collision and pinning the minibus taxi against a tree, according to ALS Paramedics.
Emergency services, including ALS Paramedics and local police, responded to the scene, where the injured were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. The authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Following this tragic event, motorists were advised to seek alternative routes as rescue and recovery operations continued in the area.
In a separate incident on January 19, 19 people lost their lives in another collision involving a school transport vehicle and a truck in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. Reports indicated that 11 learners were declared dead at the scene, with five critically injured individuals receiving medical treatment. The number of fatalities rose after the discovery of a pupil trapped beneath the overturned vehicle and the passing of another child in the hospital.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi highlighted that the school vehicle was attempting to overtake multiple cars when it collided with the truck. The truck driver’s efforts to avoid the collision were in vain, leading to the tragic outcome. Lesufi emphasized the need for stricter regulations in the private scholar transport sector following the devastating incident. Provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo revealed that the school transport vehicle was carrying more passengers than legally allowed, with 17 individuals on board despite the minibus being certified for 14 passengers.
Both drivers involved in the accident survived, with the minibus taxi driver set to undergo questioning as part of a culpable homicide investigation after receiving medical treatment.
