13 killed in KZN smash

2003-05-01 16:52

Scottburgh - The death toll in the collision between two minibus taxis travelling on the P197 near Umzinto, Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Wednesday has risen to 13, with 24 people seriously injured.

Most of those killed were school children.

KwaZulu-Natal transport spokesperson Thabang Chiloane said the other two victims' bodies were discovered shortly after emergency services arrived at the scene.

Chiloane said according to some of the victims and witnesses at the scene, the accident occurred when the two drivers were apparently greeting each other in a "a game commonly played with taxi drivers in that area."

"When a taxi driver travels down the road and he spots another taxi driver travelling in the opposite direction he would flash his vehicle lights at the opposite party, then pretend to crash into each other and at the last minute before crashing return to their lanes.

"Unfortunately their game went horribly wrong because one of the drivers allegedly could not control vehicle properly and the taxis were also travelling at a very high speed so there was a miscalculation and many other factors involved..."

One of the minibuses was transporting primary school children home when the accident occurred.

The injured were admitted to various hospitals.

Chiloane said the driver of the one the taxis involved in the accident had apparently fled the scene.

- SAPA