Schoolgirl killed in bus accident

OHRIGSTAD – A learner was killed and six others seriously injured when a school bus was involved in a horrific accident on Thursday at about 07:50.

The bus from Machaile Secondary School in Maepa Village, collided with another empty bus that was stationary directly after a bend in the road, approximately five kilometres from the town.

The seriously injured pupils were transported to Dilokong Hospital near Maandagshoek by ambulance.

When Steelburger/Lydenburg News arrived, the road was closed and the learners’ books and bags were scattered all over the scene.

The drivers and the uninjured pupils had already been transported from the scene. It took several hours to clear the scene before the road could be reopened.

“The child who passed away was in grade 11. She was staying with her grandmother, it is going to be very painful to report the tragedy to her. The girl had her whole life still ahead of her,” added an eyewitness.

According to onlookers the first people to arrive were local farmers who had heard the loud sound of the crash.

“They helped to free the learners from the bus, using their own equipment, because the door was smashed in and the traumatized children were unable to get out.” It had not yet been established how many learners were being transported. Spokesman for the police, Const Kholofelo Phokane could not yet give the newspaper an accident report.

Phokane said he would provide the paper with a full report as soon as they had finalised the investigation. One of the eyewitnesses had a seizure because of trauma caused by the accident.

The principal of Machaile was also on the scene, but refused to comment. Steelburger/Lydenburg News was unable to get more information from Dilokong and the police before going to print.Follow the updates online at www.steelburgernews.co.za