UPDATE: Metrobus responds to crash mystery
FONTAINEBLEAU – Metrobus scratches their heads.
12.45pm, 22 July
UPDATE:
André van Niekerk, managing director of Metrobus, has responded by saying that he was shocked to hear of the tragedy.
“It’s been difficult for us to process,” Van Niekerk explains. “The driver has assured us that he had parked the bus safely within a demarcated pull-over area with cement curbs, so we still haven’t managed to find out how the bus got itself out of there.”
How the bus managed to roll down Republic Road remains a mystery until metro police forensics can establish the cause.
Van Niekerk extends his condolences to families of the deceased and also the injured victims, who will be visited by Metrobus officials as soon as they have been identified.
7pm, 21 July
UPDATE: Reports from Vital Med, ER24 and other agencies have confirmed that the death toll of the Metrobus accident on Republic Road is currently standing at four, not seven as previously reported.
It also has developed into a more complex story than originally anticipated.
According to Tania du Toit, Vital Med spokesperson, an initial investigation proved that the bus broke down on top of an incline on Republic Road, and stood stationary while the bus driver went to the Metrobus depot to collect another bus.
The brakes then suddenly gave way somehow and it rolled down the hill, gaining momentum as hurtled toward the Rabie Road intersection.
“Not being driven by anybody,” said a puzzled Du Toit.
Before the unsuspecting pedestrians standing on the pavement could realise what was happening, the Metrobus slammed into the rear end of the taxi they were standing next to and went up the curb.
They were pulled down under the bus and dragged for several meters before the bus and the taxi came to a grinding halt by crashing into the wall of the townhouse complex on the corner of Republic and Rabie roads.
Ward 104 coucillor Mike Wood has extended his deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic accident. “I was shocked to hear, it’s devastating news.”
Er24 spokesperson, Russell Meiring, confirmed that the injured patients were transported both Chris Hani Baragwanath and Joburg General hospitals.
Metrobus could not be reached for comment at this time.
5pm:
BREAKING – Seven people were killed and two others critically injured when a Metro bus lost control on Republic Road and rear-ended a taxi minibus on 21 July.
Both vehicles rammed into the wall of a townhouse complex on the corner of Republic and Rabie roads.
Apart from the fatal casualties and the two critically injured victims, Vital Med spokespeople on the scene have confirmed that seven more people were taken to hospital with minor to moderate injuries.
Updates to follow.
Did the bus driver lose control or did mr taxi driver just stop in the middle of nowhere as usual.
so sad and it right by my house
did bus lose control or did the taxi stop all of a sudden like the idiots do.
I’m fling very bad nw I don’t wat mst I say about dis
I was there when the accident happened and I can’t seem to get the scream of that women that where there out of my head … I pray for the family of the deceased
To Randburg sun your uninformed reports compromise the quality and ligitimacy of news in our community. it takes 3 km from your offices to were this fatal accident happened but someone in the comfort of their own office carelesly reports “Both vehicles rammed into the wall of a townhouse complex on the corner of Republic and Rabie roads”
getting the location right and the number of deceased should be important when one writes stories like this. As an eye witness I feel realy sad and disapointed when a print sells their advertising medium like this. My condolences to the 4 families shaded by the death dark cloud, And may the 2 who are critically injured survive and find strength
@vhutshilo
The journalist was on scene, and was in constantly communicating with emergency personnel on scene thereafter and wrote AND updated the article accordingly as she received information.
In my opinion, she did and excellent job and stats on the site and also their facebook page proves it.
There was no way the bus rolled away by itself. I work on Republic and our staff member said the bus was parked in the bus stop. It could not have rolled out into the road, in a straight line, down the road. No way whatsoever. Somebody had to have steered the bus into the traffic lane again!!!
Its quite confusing of such an incident and how it happened,really can we be updated with true information please?
It is high time that Metrobus came to the party and replaced these buses that are continuously breaking down. I am sure that if these buses were kept in proper running order by Metrobus this terrible accident would not have occurred. Therefore I feel that the driver cannot be blamed for this.
I live in the area and the Taxi’s stop in the left lane where maria meets republic, if the Taxi didnt stop where they not ment to the bus would have hit the wall and not involved anyone else, lives could have been saved if arrogant drivers thought about others instead of just themselves, thats my 2cents
All of this is confusing! If bus was parked how did it roll and down republic? And as for the taxi how did that come into the picture? I respect all opinions but we need to be sensitive here because we don’t know what really happened. Typos like 7 ppl dying instead of 4 need to be confirmed.and as for the taxi again was he on the side letting someone out? And if he suddenly stopped,we can argue and say lives could have been saved,but then again apparently know one drove the bus! CONFUSED#.my prayers and condolences to those who lost their family members.may their souls rest in peace
So touching and hurtfull.My condolences to the families of the deceased.
I still don’t believe that the bus rolled and killed people like that,may be the brakes were not locked. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Even now I can’t believe that my friend lost her sister just like that.
I am travelling with metro b Ànd buses daily to and from work dailý and they are mobile cofffins , its really scary to ride in them