MBOMBELA – On Wednesday night it was a horrific scene on the N4 towards Malalane as five dead bodies lay next to the minibus taxi they had been travelling in earlier. A sixth body was still trapped in the wreckage and was only freed about two hours later. A seventh passenger succumbed to his injuries the next morning.
The accident occurred at about 20:00, approximately two kilometres before the turn-off to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The taxi was travelling in Mbombela’s direction. No other vehicles were involved.
It seemed as if the driver of the taxi simply lost control before he swerved into the oncoming lane and over the barrier before crashing into a tree.
Paramedics of Hi-Tech Medical Services, ER24 and Netcare 911 rushed to the scene. Six people were declared dead. On Lowvelder‘s arrival at the scene just after 21:00, the bodies of five of the deceased were lined up next to the wrecked taxi.
Firemen and paramedics were struggling to free the driver who had been trapped inside. When he was finally freed, he was taken to hospital with minor injuries. A baby of about 12 months was also among the passengers taken to hospital.
The dead body of a boy, estimated to be about 12 years old, was also still trapped inside. Residents of small holdings next to the N4 who heard the crash, came closer to inspect the scene. Traffic wasn’t influenced in any directions, but approaching motorists were warned to reduce speed as to avoid a secondary collision.
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As paramedics lifted the foil blankets from the deceased to record their injuries, it was clear that they had suffered severe trauma, including that of the head and various fractures.
Crime-scene experts of the police as well as traffic officials were fine-combing the scenes for clues as to what might have possibly caused the accident. The taxi was pulling a trailer of which the tyres were completely worn out.
The names of the deceased haven’t been made available at the time of going to print. Cases of culpable homicide are being investigated.
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