According to information obtained at the accident scene, the brakes of the taxi failed, causing the driver to take a split-second decision to try and stop the vehicle at the centre rather than attempting to cross the busy intersection where Verdoorn Street and Cowen Ntuli Street cross.

Nine children and three adults were treated by ER24 paramedics. One of the adults, a pregnant woman who rushed to the scene after hearing about the accident, had to be treated after she went into shock and started getting contractions.

Unconfirmed reports have it that she is the sister of the taxi driver as well as the mother of one of the children involved in the accident.