Bodies burnt beyond recognition
2009-11-26 23:32
Johannesburg - Ten people were burned to death after a bus caught fire following a collision with a truck on the R573 near Pretoria on Thursday night.
Most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition after the bus crashed into the truck and both vehicles instantly burst into flames, SABC radio news reported.
Nine of the victims were passengers while the tenth was the driver of the truck.
Paramedics said 24 other passengers were left injured after the crash and the fire.
He said the accident was initially thought to be a multiple-car pile up, but he confirmed that it was between the bus and the truck.
Baby heard crying
The accident occurred on Moloto Road.
Of the injured, 22 were in a serious condition, and two others were critical.
"Paramedics, fire-fighters and the police are at the scene to try and stabilise the situation," said Botha.
ENews reported that about 10 fire-trucks were at the scene.
According to an eyewitness that ENews spoke to, Pieter Oosthuizen, a baby was heard crying inside the bus but he was unable to rescue it.
He did say however that he and his brother-in-law did manage to pull one person from the blaze.
- SAPA