The Eastern Cape has been struck by a devastating accident involving scholar transport and a train, resulting in a death toll of three.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Addo region, leaving twenty school learners injured. Currently, four students are still in critical condition and receiving medical care in the hospital.
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According to Colonel Priscilla Naidu, the police spokesperson, authorities were alerted to the scene around 15:45.
The taxi, responsible for transporting learners from Samnkelwe Senior Secondary School, collided with a train carrying Manganese near the railway crossing in Nomathamsanqa. Reports suggest that the taxi was overloaded at the time of the crash.
Tragically, the minibus driver was declared dead at the scene, while twenty passengers were rushed to the hospital. Among the injured, a 15-year-old boy sustained severe injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Gqeberha.
Eyewitnesses reported that they had heard the sound of the approaching train, but the driver failed to heed their warnings. Consequently, the taxi driver lost his life on impact, and one of the pupils passed away while being airlifted to Gqeberha.
In response to this tragic incident, Sharon Maasdorp, the Eastern Cape Acting Head of Education, has issued a stern warning to both parents and scholar transport drivers, urging them to exercise extra vigilance in ensuring the safety of learners during transportation.
