26 children huddled in a minibus taxi on their way to school survived a near death experience when the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a bend near Estcourt High School on Wednesday morning.
The young children who are from Estcourt Primary and ML Sultan Estcourt Primary schools escaped serious injuries, with five children sustaining fractures, cuts and bruises.
The taxi driver was also injured.
The families whose yard the taxi ploughed through were shocked and emotional.
“I heard a loud bang and when I looked out I saw everyone in the taxi pressed against the windscreen,” said a woman whose yard the taxi came to a standstill in.
“This is so sad, seeing the children hurt and crying,” said a teary resident whose fence the taxi wiped out.
Emergency services on scene transported five of the children to hospital for further treatment and stabilised the remaining passengers on scene.
The children were visibly traumatised, some still shaking from fear as paramedics nebulised them and attempted taking their details.
KZN Education Department circuit managers Mr V Nkabinde and Mr Rodney Smith along with a host of educators were on scene.
Concerns about passenger safety were whispered about among the onlookers.
The families whose premises became an accident scene say this is the second time a minibus taxi carrying children overturned at this spot, they suggested that crash barriers be erected.