Schoolchildren killed in crash

2010-08-02 16:15

Mafikeng - Four primary school pupils and the driver of a taxi transporting them to school were killed when the taxi driver drove into a tractor near Schweizer Reneke on Monday morning.

Lesiba Moses Kgwele, spokesperson for the North West department of public safety said the taxi drove into the back of a tractor's trailer, which had been standing next to the R504 road at about 07:00.

The taxi was transporting pupils from Amalia village to Ipelegeng outside Schweizer Reneke, when the accident happened about 5km outside Schweizer Reneke.

"Screeching tyre marks on the tar road suggest that the vehicle was travelling at high speed," said Kgwele.

"Three primary school learners, whose ages range between 9 and 10 and the driver of the taxi died at the scene of the accident, while the fourth learner died while being rushed to Tshepong hospital in Klerksdorp."

Six other pupils were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

- SAPA