Four killed in minibus crash

A taxi driver and three passengers were killed on the spot during a head-on collision between an Avanza and Quantum on the Mdantsane Access road this morning.

The accident took place near the Woolwash turn-off at 7.30am.

Nine other patients were rushed to Frere Hospital and three were said to be unconscious and in critical condition.

Those who died were all male between the ages of 30 and 50.

East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said the driver of the Avanza was ferrying four passengers to Mdantsane when he collided with a Quantum ferrying passengers to East London.

"They collided head on. The driver of the Avanza and three passengers in the  Quantum died on the scene," Tana said.

Tana said: "Both the Avanza and the Quantum had vehicles following them, when they collided the vehicles following them also collided, there was a total of four damaged vehicles on the scene."

Dynamic Emergency Medical Services paramedic Wayne Boy, was at the scene.

He described the collision site as a "high speed impact accident".

"At first we did not know which directions the vehicles were travelling to because upon impact they both faced the East London direction. Three patients were very critical when transported to hospital. Others were treated for broken legs and arms," said Boy.

Tana said a case of culpable homicide was opened for investigation. No one has been arrested yet. The identities of the deceased would only be revealed once their next-of-kin was informed of their deaths.