The bodies of seven victims of a car crash outside Queenstown had not yet been positively identified by late yesterday.
Eight people died – five burnt beyond recognition – when a Toyota Avanza and Hyundai minibus collided head on on the N6 at about 2pm on Monday.
Queenstown police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Namhla Mdleleni yesterday said only the body of the Avanza driver had been identified by his father.
The father, who is a police captain in Cape Town, made a special request to fellow officers for his son’s name not to be released publicly.
Mdleleni said the Avanza driver was 27 years old.
The Avanza caught fire after the collision, trapping five passengers.
The driver and one passenger managed to escape the wreckage, but both died from their injuries outside vehicle while waiting for emergency personnel.
The Avanza had been travelling to King William’s Town and the minibus had been transporting drivers contracted to Avis car rental to Queenstown.
Mdleleni said that by late yesterday police were still waiting for the families of the deceased victims to come forward and identify the bodies.
“Anyone wishing to do so can contact Queenstown Detective Constable Funeka Mvandaba on 0726999860 or myself on 08-7797237,” Mdleleni said.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said five of the charred bodies had been burnt beyond recognition and it would take DNA tests to positively identify the bodies and link them to their families.
Mdleleni said a case of culpable homicide was still open for investigation.
Kevin Dickson of Port Elizabeth Motor Transporters, the company who contracted drivers to Avis, said he had no details about the accident.
Rank managers from taxi ranks in King William’s Town and Queenstown told the Dispatch that the Avanza did not belong to any of their taxi associations. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Queenstown horror crash victims yet to be identified
Eight people died – five burnt beyond recognition – when a Toyota Avanza and Hyundai minibus collided head on on the N6 at about 2pm on Monday.
Queenstown police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Namhla Mdleleni yesterday said only the body of the Avanza driver had been identified by his father.
The father, who is a police captain in Cape Town, made a special request to fellow officers for his son’s name not to be released publicly.
Mdleleni said the Avanza driver was 27 years old.
The Avanza caught fire after the collision, trapping five passengers.
The driver and one passenger managed to escape the wreckage, but both died from their injuries outside vehicle while waiting for emergency personnel.
The Avanza had been travelling to King William’s Town and the minibus had been transporting drivers contracted to Avis car rental to Queenstown.
Mdleleni said that by late yesterday police were still waiting for the families of the deceased victims to come forward and identify the bodies.
“Anyone wishing to do so can contact Queenstown Detective Constable Funeka Mvandaba on 0726999860 or myself on 08-7797237,” Mdleleni said.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said five of the charred bodies had been burnt beyond recognition and it would take DNA tests to positively identify the bodies and link them to their families.
Mdleleni said a case of culpable homicide was still open for investigation.
Kevin Dickson of Port Elizabeth Motor Transporters, the company who contracted drivers to Avis, said he had no details about the accident.
Rank managers from taxi ranks in King William’s Town and Queenstown told the Dispatch that the Avanza did not belong to any of their taxi associations. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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