Horrific crash claims 11th life
2009-07-05 14:28
Johannesburg - The death toll in the Eastern Cape minibus taxi accident has risen to 11, the provincial health department said on Sunday.
The latest victim, a woman, had been among the critically injured receiving treatment at the Nelson Mandela Academic hospital, spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said.
"She died overnight and another person who was being treated in the same hospital is still in high care."
Four other patients who were among the eight people injured in Saturday's accident were being treated at St Barnabas hospital in Libode.
Another person was to be transferred to the Bedford Hospital for specialist treatment later on Sunday. A toddler injured in the accident was expected to be discharged.
The minibus they were in drove off a cliff at the Tudor Ndamase Pass between Libode and Port St Johns.
"According to eye witnesses, the taxi hit a car from behind, overturned and veered off the road," Kupelo said.
A helicopter had to be called in to retrieve the bodies as it was difficult to get them by foot, Kupelo said on Saturday.
It was the second accident on that stretch of road in a week.
A prayer service was being planned for 11:00 on Thursday.
Chief Mangaliso Bokleni, speaking on behalf of traditional leaders in the area said: "Four people were killed from the previous accident and now this. This stretch of road is claiming too many lives and it is very worrying."
The provincial transport department is investigating the cause of the accident.
Spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca said it would decide whether to bring charges against the taxi driver, who was amongst the injured, once investigations were completed.
- SAPA