Ten people were killed on the R42 during a side-swipe collision involving a minibus taxi and a bus truck on Monday June 24 at around 01:00.
One injured victim died later that day in hospital.
According to the spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi, eight of the deceased were occupants in the minibus taxi while two were occupants in the bus truck.
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“The deceased included the driver of the minibus taxi. Ten people were declared dead on the scene and about 24 people sustained serious injuries. Eighteen of the injured were occupants in the bus truck and six were in the minibus taxi. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, where one person died.”
Mmusi said reports indicate that the minibus taxi was initially travelling on the N12 from Johannesburg and then entered the R42.
A crash between a taxi, truck and a bus has left 10 people dead in Mpumalanga this morning.
The accident happened on R42 road near Delmas, and 24 people have been rushed to hospital in a critical condition. The 10 deceased were in a taxi, and 24 injured were in a bus. pic.twitter.com/ERV8m6BXMK
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) June 24, 2024
“The driver of the minibus was allegedly going back onto the N12 from the R42 when the crash happened. The taxi was travelling towards Emalahleni while the bus truck was headed for Bronkhorstspruit. The taxi was towing a trailer. It is not known at this stage what caused the crash. The investigation is already under way.”
The MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, said motorists must be cautious at all times when on the road.
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“It is sad to see so many people losing their lives on the road. We appeal for greater caution on the part of drivers to avoid these tragedies,” he said.
Macie sent condolences to the affected families and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery.
The new MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, visited the families of some of the victims and the survivors in hospital on Monday June 24.
