POLOKWANE – Police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe says the bus driver was arrested after attempting to cross the border into Zimbabwe illegally.
“He was taken to hospital with other 51 injured passengers for medical treatment and after his discharge he fled towards the Beit Bridge Port of Entry. As the process of intensive investigations by the Police was unfolding, especially on the possible cause of that accident, he attempted to cross the border in Zimbabwe illegally by hiding inside a goods trailer,” explained Ngoepe.
The Police were tipped-off and the driver was caught hidden inside the goods trailer trying to illegally cross the border to Zimbabwe.
This arrested suspect will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 26 September on nine counts of culpable homicide. Additional charges maybe be added ata atyer stage, said Ngoepe.
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His arrest follows a culpable homicide where nine passengers lost their lives during a bus crash which occurred along the N1 South road in the early hours of Friday.
It is alleged that the bus driver lost control and it overturned.
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The bus was carrying 61 occupants including the driver and the crew, nine out of sixty-one were certified dead at the scene, the other injured people including the driver were taken to different hospitals for medical treatment.
The identification process of all the deceased is still unfolding.
The Police investigations are continuing.
