Several burn to death in bus crash

2009-11-26 22:03

Johannesburg - Several passengers are believed to have burned to death after a bus caught fire following a collision with a truck on the R573 in Pretoria on Thursday night, paramedics said.

Twenty-four other passengers were left injured after the crash and the fire, said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha, who was at the scene.

"It is not known how many bodies are still trapped inside the bus. Firefighters are also trying to lift the bus off a woman who is trapped underneath... she is alive but critical," said Botha.

"They are using heavy duty cranes to lift the bus from its side."

He said the accident was initially thought to be a multiple-car pile up, but he confirmed that it was between the bus and the truck.

The accident occurred on Moloto Road.

Of the injured, 22 were in a serious condition, two others were critical and one other person died outside the bus at the scene.

According to ENews, the bus was completely burnt out and the truck driver was also among the dead. 

- SAPA