Three people, including an East London high school pupil, died in three separate accidents reported by provincial traffic authorities yesterday.
In East London, police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a minibus taxi transporting pupils overturned on the N2 near Hemingways. One child died.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi yesterday confirmed this, saying the injured were rushed to hospital.
“The accident happened after 7am and before 8am on the N2 as the minibus was transporting pupils to school,” said Mbi.
The accident happened near Hemingways Mall as the pupils were on their way to Gonubie High from Mdantsane.
The identity of the deceased child could not be established at time of writing yesterday.
School principal Grethe Botha said although the school had been informed of the accident, they were unaware of the death.
“We are extremely sad by what had happened but the department of education is assisting to help fellow pupils who are left traumatised by this accident,” said Botha.
Frantic parents had been calling in to check on their children, she added.
The driver of the minibus is said to have lost control of the 15-seater, which was allegedly carrying 22 passengers at the time of the accident.
The road was closed for more than an hour as authorities cleared the scene.
Both Buffalo City Metro and provincial traffic officials had to constantly wave away curious onlookers who were stopping everywhere to check on the accident.
Provincial traffic spokesman Tshepo Machaea said the accident was being investigated.
“One pupil died and a number of them had to be rushed to different hospitals around East London.
“At this stage we are not sure of how critical they are but the driver is one of those injured too,” said Machaea.
Machaea said there was no other vehicle involved in the accident.
“The driver apparently lost control of the minibus and it overturned and landed on its side.
“The MEC said everything that led to the accident must be checked.
“Speed and roadworthiness of the vehicle will also be checked as authorities investigate.”
Machaea said two other people were killed in two other accidents.
A patient who was being transported from Sterkspruit to Frere hospital WAs killed when a patient transport vehicle overturned early yesterday morning.
Machaea said the accident happened outside Cathcart towards Stutterheim. “The patients were being transported to East London when their vehicle overturned. Unfortunately one patient died. There was no other vehicle involved in that accident,” said Machaea.
Another accident that was confirmed by Machaea happened on the Amalinda on-ramp. “One person died in that accident.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Pupil killed as minibus overturns
In East London, police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a minibus taxi transporting pupils overturned on the N2 near Hemingways. One child died.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi yesterday confirmed this, saying the injured were rushed to hospital.
“The accident happened after 7am and before 8am on the N2 as the minibus was transporting pupils to school,” said Mbi.
The accident happened near Hemingways Mall as the pupils were on their way to Gonubie High from Mdantsane.
The identity of the deceased child could not be established at time of writing yesterday.
School principal Grethe Botha said although the school had been informed of the accident, they were unaware of the death.
“We are extremely sad by what had happened but the department of education is assisting to help fellow pupils who are left traumatised by this accident,” said Botha.
Frantic parents had been calling in to check on their children, she added.
The driver of the minibus is said to have lost control of the 15-seater, which was allegedly carrying 22 passengers at the time of the accident.
The road was closed for more than an hour as authorities cleared the scene.
Both Buffalo City Metro and provincial traffic officials had to constantly wave away curious onlookers who were stopping everywhere to check on the accident.
Provincial traffic spokesman Tshepo Machaea said the accident was being investigated.
“One pupil died and a number of them had to be rushed to different hospitals around East London.
“At this stage we are not sure of how critical they are but the driver is one of those injured too,” said Machaea.
Machaea said there was no other vehicle involved in the accident.
“The driver apparently lost control of the minibus and it overturned and landed on its side.
“The MEC said everything that led to the accident must be checked.
“Speed and roadworthiness of the vehicle will also be checked as authorities investigate.”
Machaea said two other people were killed in two other accidents.
A patient who was being transported from Sterkspruit to Frere hospital WAs killed when a patient transport vehicle overturned early yesterday morning.
Machaea said the accident happened outside Cathcart towards Stutterheim. “The patients were being transported to East London when their vehicle overturned. Unfortunately one patient died. There was no other vehicle involved in that accident,” said Machaea.
Another accident that was confirmed by Machaea happened on the Amalinda on-ramp. “One person died in that accident.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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