Several scholars were lucky to escape unharmed when the vehicle they were travelling in burst into flames. Image: Reaction Unit South Africa Facebook page.
Scholars lucky to escape BURNING vehicle in KwaZulu-Natal
A normal journey to school turned into a horror experience for some scholars when the vehicle they were traveling in burst into flames
Several scholars were lucky to escape unharmed when the vehicle they were travelling in burst into flames. Image: Reaction Unit South Africa Facebook page.
Emergency services were called to the scene where a microbus transporting scholars to school burst into flames in Riet River, KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, 30 January.
ALSO READ: One dead, seven learners injured in Sebokeng scholar bus accident
Scholars escape from burning vehicle
At around 7:02, members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a local security firm, were dispatched to Neptune Drive in Riet River, KwaZulu-Natal.
They arrived to find a burning VW Microbus engulfed in flames.
The driver told reaction officers that he bought the car two weeks ago and it was later sent to a panel beater.
This was the first day he used the vehicle to transport children to school when it suddenly caught fire.
The cause of the fire was not determined immediately and the were no reported injuries.
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What to do at an accident scene
With many accidents occurring on our roads, you might find yourself on the scene of one.
Here is what you can do:
- The safety of accident victims, emergency personnel, and other road users is the most important goal when an accident occurs.
- The first hour following an accident is known as the “Golden Hour,” and doctors say seriously injured car crash victims must receive comprehensive medical care within 60 minutes to have a good chance of survival. This scenario gives rescuers about 12 minutes at the accident scene to extricate the injured and get them to the hospital.
- Consider the traffic flow at the scene. Is it a risk to you or others, including the casualty?
- Consider the impact on emergency vehicles trying to reach the scene before stopping traffic.
- If anyone is available, send someone up and down the road to wave down traffic.
- Turn on hazard lights and ignite flares if the incident happened at night to warn oncoming motorists of the danger.
- Consider the positioning of any vehicles involved in the incident and the potential hazards they may pose (such as rolling forwards or backwards). Consider safety – constantly reassess the safety of the scene, especially if you rely on others to keep you safe.
- Turn off all of the vehicles involved in the collision.
