Limpopo’s transport department Tuesday said a head on collision that happened on Monday resulted in the death of 20 people and the injury of 60 others, after a cash-in-transit truck lost control and crashed into a bus.
Authorities also reported that ten of the injured were in serious condition and have been transported to hospital.
Tidimalo Chuene, the spokesperson for Limpopo’s transport department said the cause of the accident is under investigation, but recent rains have left the region drenched.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, a 24-hour TV news channel that broadcasts to South, East and West Africa, Chuene said the bus fell into a river after the collision.
“The bus fell through a barrier or embarkment and down something like a river, where we are told that it fell on its side and there were people who were trapped under the bus,” said Chuene.
“It is only when they tilted the bus that they found almost 14 other people who were trapped,” she added.
The transport authority also said the drivers of the two vehicles were among those who sustained moderate injuries and that several accidents have been reported on the N1 highway in Louis Trichardt.
“I’ve seen a number of accidents which is a cause for concern and of course we will be getting more details from our traffic management team, but yes in December there was an accident, a horrific one that claimed six lives,” said Chuene.
Some information in the report came from Newzroom Afrika and Agence France-Presse.
