Prasa commits to paying medical costs
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) stated it will pay the costs for medical care provided to those injured in last week's Denver train collision.
According to the Emergency Management Services spokesperson, Mr Robert Mulaudzi, 92 people were injured when two trains collided at the Denver Train Station on April 28 at about 7am.
A guard from Metrorail was killed and the Business Express driver was critically injured and airlifted to hospital.
The guard was sitting in the rear carriage of the Metro Plus train. It is believed she was in her thirties.
The Metro Plus train left the Pretoria station at 6am and the Business Express train left at 6.15am. About 710 passengers were aboard the Metro Plus train and 200 were in the Business Express.
The trains were both travelling from Pretoria when the incident occurred.
The Business Express train crashed into the Metro Plus train, which was stationery at the Denver Train Station.
Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson, Ms Lillian Mofokeng, said it was unclear what caused the collision and investigations are continuing.
Prasa’s chief executive officer, Mr Mosenngwa Mofi, said 80 of the 92 people injured were discharged from hospital after receiving medical treatment.
“Metrorail sent a team of representatives to visit those in hospital. We send our condolences to the family of the Metro guard who died,” he said.
“It took a long time to get the Business Express train driver out of the wreckage because of the position she was in. She might have suffered head and spine injuries,” said Mr Mulaudzi.
The Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, also visited the scene.
“Government is concerned about accidents and fatalities in the public transport sector. Government sends condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” she said.
She said the government is currently underway with its five-year plan to build new trains.
“Government will give the necessary support to the injured. Metrorail and Prasa need to do all that is necessary to get to the bottom of what caused the accident and give feedback accordingly,” she said.
Group chief executive officer of Prasa, Mr Lucky Montana, said Prasa will make transport arrangements for those with weekly and monthly train tickets for the routes affected.
“We will also provide counselling, pay medical costs for both private and public hospitals to those injured and traumatised as a result of this incident,” he said.
Mr Montana said people who need assistance can visit the Pretoria Train Station and Park Station for assistance.
The offices will be open from 7am to 6pm.
“We have personnel in those offices who are ready to assist with counselling and processing claims,” he said.
Mr Montana said R2,5-million has been allocated for those who want to claim for minor injuries. The money that can be paid out for minor injuries is between R7 000 to R15 000, as it varies according to each case.
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