Horror bus crash kills at least 8
2007-12-22 07:27
Estcourt - At least eight people were killed and 23 were injured in a collision when a bus ploughed into stationary lorry near Estcourt in the
KwaZulu-Natal midlands on Saturday morning, paramedics said.
The KwaZulu-Natal provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Service reported
that of those injured, 10 were reported to be in a critical condition while another four were described as being in a serious condition.
The remainder were reported to have suffered minor injuries.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics at the scene had told
him that the accident had taken place near the Estcourt North off ramp on the N3, about seven kilometres from Estcourt.
He said paramedics had also told him that the bus was not a scheduled operator but a privately hired bus and that there had been about 70
passengers on board.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department spokesperson Colin Govender said initial indications were that the bus ploughed into a stationary lorry with two
trailers parked on the side of highway.
He said it was "too early to say why" the bus had crashed into the
lorry. He said that both the driver of the bus and the lorry had
survived the accident.
Heading to the Eastern Cape
According to markings on the bus, it belonged to a company called Lux Passenger Service based in Rustenburg. The bus was apparently on its way
to the Eastern Cape.
The southbound lanes on the N3 had been closed and traffic was being diverted along the R102 through Estcourt.
It was also not immediately clear when the accident had happened, but it
is believed to have occurred shortly after midnight.
Shortly before 04:00, emergency officials were still trying to cut five
people from the wreckage.
Last year's festive season was marred when 12 people were killed and 24
injured on Christmas Eve when an SA Roadlink bus crashed near Pietermaritzburg in the early hours of the morning.
- SAPA