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17 February 2023
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Limpopo bus crash death kills 21 after head on collision with CIT vehicle
At least 21 people died after the bus they were travelling on crashed into a cash-in-transit truck and veered off the roadway. 68 others were also injured in the head-on collision. The bus was transporting passengers from Makhado Town to areas around Ndzhelele, Siloam and Tshikombani, in the Vhembe District on Monday, 13 February 2023. Police divers were also searching the river that runs along the motorway for people who may have been swept away after the bus landed in a river after rolling from the freeway bridge. The bus landed in a river after rolling from the freeway bridge in Limpopo.
ER24 spokesperson Ross Campbell said the exact details surrounding the collision were unknown at this time. “ER24 paramedics were on the scene along with the Fire Department, Provincial EMS and Rescue and several other private EMS services. Several passengers are still possibly unaccounted for.”
“One of the 69 passengers that were transported to hospital for various injuries, has since died. Three people were found dead by the roadside and sixteen down by the river. All were declared dead on arrival. Most of the fatalities down by the river had been trapped under the bus,” Campbell said.
“Heavy rains have been falling in the area,” Campbell added.
Investigations
Campbell said police and other authorities were on scene for investigations but the weather was delaying the work being done by emergency services.
According to the police, preliminary findings show that the cash-in-transit van veered off from its lane into the lane of the bus. The police who were briefing the deputy transport minister said the van was not roadworthy.
Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani said 19 people died at the scene while two more passed away in hospital. Her spokesperson Vongani Chauke told The Citizen Radzilani spent much of the day visiting injured passengers in hospital. “The MEC visited the three hospitals; she was visiting the patients who survived the accident. According to reports, a truck that was overtaking another vehicle lost control and collided with the bus,” Chauke said.
Chauke said Radzilani would endeavour to ensure the department expedites the conclusion of the accident report so that the victims can make claims with the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
Toddler killed in accident in separate accident in Limpopo
Meanwhile, a three-year-old baby girl died and eleven others have suffered serious injuries in a taxi crash, also in Limpopo. It is understood the mini-bus rolled over on the R71 in the Houtbosdorp area on Monday.
Campbell said ER24 paramedics arrived on scene together with the provincial EMS, Traffic, Mopani Fire and Rescue, SAPS and another private service. “Ten adults, both male and female, as well as two small children were found outside the vehicle having self-extracted. The three-year-old girl had unfortunately suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead on arrival by ER24 on the scene. The eleven patients were treated for serious injuries and transported by the Provincial EMS, ER24 and the other private EMS service on scene to hospital for further care,” Campbell said.
Campbell added that authorities were on scene for further investigations.
Sources: The Citizen, ER24, Road Traffic Agency, Times Live
ER24 spokesperson Ross Campbell said the exact details surrounding the collision were unknown at this time. “ER24 paramedics were on the scene along with the Fire Department, Provincial EMS and Rescue and several other private EMS services. Several passengers are still possibly unaccounted for.”
“One of the 69 passengers that were transported to hospital for various injuries, has since died. Three people were found dead by the roadside and sixteen down by the river. All were declared dead on arrival. Most of the fatalities down by the river had been trapped under the bus,” Campbell said.
“Heavy rains have been falling in the area,” Campbell added.
Investigations
Campbell said police and other authorities were on scene for investigations but the weather was delaying the work being done by emergency services.
According to the police, preliminary findings show that the cash-in-transit van veered off from its lane into the lane of the bus. The police who were briefing the deputy transport minister said the van was not roadworthy.
Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani said 19 people died at the scene while two more passed away in hospital. Her spokesperson Vongani Chauke told The Citizen Radzilani spent much of the day visiting injured passengers in hospital. “The MEC visited the three hospitals; she was visiting the patients who survived the accident. According to reports, a truck that was overtaking another vehicle lost control and collided with the bus,” Chauke said.
Chauke said Radzilani would endeavour to ensure the department expedites the conclusion of the accident report so that the victims can make claims with the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
Toddler killed in accident in separate accident in Limpopo
Meanwhile, a three-year-old baby girl died and eleven others have suffered serious injuries in a taxi crash, also in Limpopo. It is understood the mini-bus rolled over on the R71 in the Houtbosdorp area on Monday.
Campbell said ER24 paramedics arrived on scene together with the provincial EMS, Traffic, Mopani Fire and Rescue, SAPS and another private service. “Ten adults, both male and female, as well as two small children were found outside the vehicle having self-extracted. The three-year-old girl had unfortunately suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead on arrival by ER24 on the scene. The eleven patients were treated for serious injuries and transported by the Provincial EMS, ER24 and the other private EMS service on scene to hospital for further care,” Campbell said.
Campbell added that authorities were on scene for further investigations.
Sources: The Citizen, ER24, Road Traffic Agency, Times Live
