Ten killed in second major Limpopo bus crash this week

One lane on the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane was reopened following a fatal bus accident that occurred next to the Caltex Garage next to the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort at around 5am on Friday morning in Limpopo.

The bus transporting 59 passengers was travelling from Harare, Zimbabwe to Gauteng.

According to a statement issued by Netcare 911, personnel responded to an accident on the N1, 20 kilometres south of Polokwane shortly after 5.20am.

Marketing and communications officer Tebogo Magoro said that, on arrival, Netcare 911 and several other emergency medical services found that the bus had went down an embankment and was lying on its side.

“Upon further assessment paramedics found multiple people on scene. Eleven had sustained serious injuries and 23 minor to moderate injuries. Unfortunately 10 sustained fatal injuries and nothing could be done for them and they were declared dead on the scene,” Magoro said.

The department called on motorists in the area to not stop as it would cause further disruption, said Matome Moremi-Taueatsoala, spokesperson for the department of transport.

The road was temporarily closed to allow for the accident scene to be cleared and motorists were advised to use the R101 as an alternative route.

Emergency personnel were on the scene to clear the site and control the traffic.

This followed a bus accident in which 11 people died on the N1 South between Mookgophong and Mokopane on 17 September.

On Monday, a bus that was travelling from Zambia to Gauteng overturned on the N1 near Mookgopong. Reports indicate that the bus experienced a tyre burst after which the driver lost control and veered off the road.

Eleven were killed in the accident, while two passengers were seriously injured and 30 passengers had slight injuries.

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