8 killed in N1 bus crash near Louis Trichardt
Eight people died and several others were injured when a bus overturned on the hills outside Louis Trichardt on the N1 on May 7.
LIMPOPO – At least eight people were killed and several others injured when a bus overturned on the hills outside Louis Trichardt on May 7 after its brakes reportedly failed.
Some of the injured passengers were rushed to Louis Trichardt Memorial, Elim, Siloam and Tshilidzini hospitals for treatment.
Emergency crews rescue trapped passengers
Emergency personnel used the jaws of life to rescue victims trapped inside the wreckage.
Survivors claimed the bus had experienced brake problems several times before the incident. The bus was reportedly transporting 61 passengers from Malawi to various destinations in South Africa.
N1 closed after deadly crash
The N1 was closed and reopened the following day after emergency teams cleared the scene. The identities of the deceased had not yet been released at the time of going to press.
The crash follows another bus accident in April involving a bus travelling from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, in which one person died. Last October, seven people also lost their lives on the N1 outside Louis Trichardt, a road increasingly associated with fatal accidents.
Calls for improved road safety
Violet Mathye expressed concern over the increasing number of road accidents in the province.
“This is a serious concern, as more innocent lives are being lost on our roads. All stakeholders must work together with government to develop initiatives aimed at reducing fatalities,” she said.
Mathye urged motorists to obey road safety regulations and ensure vehicles are roadworthy before travelling.
“I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” she said.
