killed

Nine people killed in a bus vs taxi collision. Photo: Eastern Cape Department of Transport/ Facebook

JUST IN: Nine killed in minibus taxi and long-distance bus collision

A total of nine people have been killed after a minibus taxi and long-distance bus were involved in a collision. Update to follow.

killed

Nine people killed in a bus vs taxi collision. Photo: Eastern Cape Department of Transport/ Facebook

Nine people were killed after a minibus taxi and long-distance bus collision in the Eastern Cape this afternoon, Sunday, 4 June.

NINE PASSENGERS WERE KILLED AT THE SCENE OF THE COLLISION

Reporting on this tragedy, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport confirmed multi fatalities in excess of 9 people in a head-on collision involving a minibus taxi and one of the long-distance buses.

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The accident occurred on the R61 between Flagstaff and Lusikisiki at about 13:45 today, according to the Eastern Department of Transport.

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DETAILS OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT NOT FINAL


“Details are still sketchy… We’ll be back with an update shortly.”

Eastern Department of Transport

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TRUCK DRIVER ARRESTED FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Meanwhile, a truck driver was arrested on the N12 highway near the Atlas Road off-ramp on Wednesday, 24 May, by the National Traffic Police for allegedly driving an unroadworthy heavy goods vehicle loaded with steel estimated at R 4 million.

At around 8:30, while patrolling the highway, members of the unit reached a scene and found a stationary 24-wheeler truck in the middle of the road, causing a major traffic backlog.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered the truck and trailer had numerous defects, including all 24 tyres worn out with exposed wires.
“Due to friction and heavy load, some of the tyres were rubbing against each other on the axle of the trailer,” said RTMC

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the truck travelled from Germiston to Mpumalanga along the N12 highway without a licence disc.

“Both the driver, a Zimbabwean national and the operator from KMB product company had no public transport documentation and have been taken into police custody,” RTMC reported, adding that the driver will face charges of reckless and negligent driving and operating an unroadworthy vehicle.

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