A loud bang echoed in the busy Geelhout Street in front of Hoërskool Bergvlam on the morning of Thursday of last week when a minibus taxi drove into the back of a bakkie. The driver was the only occupant of the taxi.
When Nelspruit Post arrived at the scene near the main school gate, the taxi had already parked out of the road. Remnants of the crash were still visible on the road.
The taxi driver had not been injured as the airbag deployed in time to soften his blow. The driver and passenger in the bakkie were slightly injured and had to be escorted by ambulance to Mediclinic Nelspruit. Netcare 911 was on the scene and had quickly responded to the accident.
“The occupants involved in the accident sustained no serious injuries,” said Mr André Denysschen, advanced life-support paramedic of Netcare 911.
According to an eyewitness, the bakkie had suddenly stopped in the middle of the road when it saw another car at a yield sign.
“The driver of the bakkie must have thought that it was a four-way stop for some reason. The taxi driver then could not brake fast enough and slammed into the bakkie,” he said.
