12 People Killed Including Five Children After Zimbabwe-Bound Bus Overturns In Free State
A tragic bus accident on the N1 in the Free State has claimed the lives of 12 people, including five children, after a Zimbabwe-bound coach overturned on Thursday night.
Dozens of other passengers were injured in the crash, which occurred north of Trompsburg as the bus was travelling from Cape Town.
Also Read: 14 People Killed, Dozens Injured in Bus Accident Along Harare–Nyamapanda Highway
Bus Overturned Near Trompsburg
According to the Free State Department of Health, the bus overturned shortly after 9:30 pm about 24 kilometres north of Trompsburg in the direction of Edenburg.
The coach was carrying around 60 passengers when it lost control and came to rest across the highway, blocking traffic as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Authorities confirmed to TimesLive that the bus was travelling from Cape Town to Zimbabwe at the time of the accident.
66 Passengers Injured
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said 66 passengers were injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Free State health officials said 57 of the injured suffered minor injuries, while five were listed in serious condition and four remained in critical condition.
Emergency teams worked through the night to assist survivors and transport the injured to medical facilities across the province.
Children Rescued From Beneath Bus
Early reports from the scene indicated that several passengers had been thrown from the vehicle during the crash.
Rescue workers also carried out a delicate operation to free children who had become trapped beneath the overturned bus.
Emergency medical personnel, firefighters and law enforcement officers remained at the scene as triage and rescue operations continued.
Investigation Underway
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said crash investigators had been deployed to determine what caused the fatal accident.
He said no conclusions would be reached until investigators had examined all the available evidence.
Zwane also conveyed condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and wished those receiving medical treatment a full recovery.
Meanwhile, motorists travelling along the N1 between Trompsburg and Edenburg were advised to expect delays, slow down and use alternative routes where possible as authorities managed the aftermath of the crash.
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