Mom clutches baby in death
2003-10-20 20:06
Cape Town - Two children were among 15 people who died when a runaway truck and trailer crashed into them at a pension payout point near Tugela Ferry in KwaZulu-Natal at about 13:00.
KZN transport spokesperson Logan Maistry said: "What got to me the most, was a dead mother clutching her dead baby."
He said most of the victims were women.
"It was difficult to determine which of the victims were pensioners collecting their money from the mobile payout point, which were hawkers selling their wares, and which were bystanders."
Thirteen people died at the scene, while another two later died in the Church of Scotland Hospital in Tugela Ferry.
Thirteen others were still in hospital, some of them in a serious condition.
Maistry said police were still questioning the truckdriver by late afternoon. A docket had been opened and 15 charges of culpable homicide would be brought against the driver. Charges of reckless and negligent driving, among others, would also be investigated.
The driver told police he lost control of the truck when the vehicle's brakes failed. Earlier reports said the driver was trying to pass another truck when he smashed into the people at the roadside.
Police spokesperson Buhle Ngidi said the driver is employed by Greytown Brewery Distributors and at the time of the accident he was on his way to deliver liquor.
Ngidi said it was alleged he was driving under the influence of alcohol. He is expected to appear at Tugela Ferry magistrate's court on Tuesday.
The department would tow the truck to one of their testing stations, where it would undergo a full roadworthy check, Maistry said.
KZN Transport MEC S'bu Ndebele ordered a full investigation into the accident.
Maistry said the department and the Road Accident Fund would pay out R10 000 to the family of each of the persons killed in the accident to cover funeral and burial costs. The department would cover hospital costs for the injured. RAF chief executive Humphrey Kgomongwe confirmed this.
Maistry said the RAF would personally deal with people who are permanently disabled by the accident. This way the process would be speeded up, legal costs would be cut and the RAF would make sure that the people received full compensation.
Kgomongwe expressed shock at the accident.
"Even though the fund cannot replace the lives lost it can and will relieve the plight of those injured and dependants of those who unfortunately lost their lives".
He said the fund's Durban office was already following up on the fund undertaking and commitment to assist.
Transport Minister Dullah Omar's spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said Omar was shocked to hear of the accident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
He also wished the injured a speedy recovery.