Runaway truck kills 11

2003-10-24 16:07

Umtata - At least 11 people died and 27 were seriously injured in South Africa on Friday when a run-away truck and trailer plowed into a cars of midday shoppers in a small provincial town, police said.

The vehicle was approaching Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape province, about 800km south of Johannesburg, when it had an apparent brake failure on a steep downhill leading into the small town, said police spokesperson Nondumiso Jafta.

"The driver lost control and the truck hit 12 stationary vehicles, including cars, vans and other trucks," said Superintendent Jafta, adding that the accident happened at about 12:30.

"Many of them were cars of shoppers. People who were walking on the pavements were also injured," she told AFP.

Nine people died instantly and 29 were taken to hospital where two others later died of injuries, she said.

"According to reports we have received some of the vehicles were pushed underneath others," she said.

- AFP