Bus crash: Narrow escape for 2
2003-05-06 14:29
bloemfontein - Two men narrowly escaped the Workers' Day bus disaster by getting off the ill-fated coach shortly before it plunged into an eastern Free State dam, it emerged on Tuesday.
Chris Malhako, spokesperson for the government task team on the accident, confirmed that Michael Sewedi and Disco Modise left the bus before it entered Bethlehem on Thursday.
They got off in "very mysterious circumstances" when the bus stopped at the roadside, Malhako said.
"The one apparently insisted on getting off, after which the other ran after him. They disappeared into the dark."
When the two did not emerge after a while, the driver continued towards Bethlehem.
Sewedi contacted emergency workers in Bethlehem the day after the disaster. They informed the Northern Cape government, and transport was arranged for him to return to Kimberley.
Modise could not yet be traced, Malhako said.
Fifty-one of Modise and Sewedi's fellow passengers died in the early morning hours on Thursday after the driver had apparently lost his bearings in the dark.
The bus drove into the Saulspoort Dam just outside Bethlehem.
They were on their way from Kimberley to Qwa Qwa for a Workers' Day rally.
Free State MEC for public works, roads and transport Sekhopi Malebo said on Tuesday investigators into the accident expected to release a final report this week or early next week.
- SAPA