Six people, including a child, burn to death in horror accident
A critically injured woman was airlifted to hospital
SIX people, including a child, burnt to death on Friday morning when the taxi they were travelling in collided head-on with a Ford Ranger.
Seven other people were injured in the accident which occurred shortly before 5am on the M57 at Olifantsfontein Road (Old Pretoria Main Road) in Tembisa.
Werner Vermaak, spokesman for ER24, said paramedics from numerous services were dispatched to the scene where they found a taxi on fire lying on its roof. Paramedics found seven people with several injuries a few meters away from the taxi. One of them was in a serious condition. It is believed they managed to escape the burning taxi through the broken windows.
Vermaak said an emergency helicopter was called to the scene to airlift one of the injured from the scene. The woman that was airlifted sustained severe burn wounds and possible fractures. The remainder of the patients were also treated for burn wounds and possible fractures.
Fire fighters extinguished the fire when they arrived.
“Upon further assessment paramedics found what appears to be six people, including a child, which burnt to death inside the taxi. Unfortunately it was extremely difficult for paramedics to identify the exact number of bodies at the time. One of the injured occupants stated there might have been eight people still in the taxi, however this could not be confirmed on the scene,” Vermaak said.
The driver of the Ford Ranger sustained moderate injuries and was also transported to a local hospital.
The exact cause of the incident is not yet known. The incident was handed over to the local authorities for further investigation.
Chris Botha, spokesman for Netcare 911, said the taxi overturned on impact and burst into flames. The Ranger veered off the road and slammed into a wall.
Botha said paramedics stabilised the critically wounded patient and then airlifted her to hospital with the Netcare helicopter.
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