Police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng a truck driver is said to have lost control of his vehicle and swerved in front of the oncoming minibus taxi on the N1 some 22km from Verkeerdevlei towards Winburg.

The 47-year-old truck driver survived the accident unharmed and is facing charges of culpable homicide.

According to ER24 spokesperson, Ross Campbell, emergency services, including the ER24 paramedics, Provincial EMS, and Life Healthcare arrived on the scene at 03h15 they found the truck on the road while the taxi was found on its roof in the field.

“Several passengers were found scattered around the vehicle.”

Medics immediately assessed the patients and found thirteen people, including five children, had sustained fatal injuries.

“Unfortunately, nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead.”
Several other patients were found with injuries ranging from serious to critical. They were treated and provided with advanced life support before they were transported to nearby hospitals for urgent care.”
The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations.