21 die in horror N1 smash

2003-10-30 07:18

Laingsburg - A horror smash between an 87-seater bus and a truck on the N1 in the Karoo has claimed 21 lives and some passengers were still trapped three hours after the accident.

Maralack said the bus driver, like the truck driver, survived the smash, but was injured.

Sixteen passengers were injured, four of them seriously.

The injuries included neck and spinal ones, and the patients were taken to Beaufort West Hospital and to Prince Albert Hospital in the Karoo.

Maralack said the N1 had been cleared and was open to traffic again.

According to Esra Maralack, acting assistant director of the Boland-Overberg emergency medical services, the accident happened at 01:05 on Thursday about 50km from Laingsburg.

Maralack said the Bokwes bus - from the Eastern Cape - had been on its way from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

"It was chaotic," said Maralack. Emergency services from Overberg, Worcester, Prince Albert, Beaufort West and George had been helping at the crash.

- SAPA