MEDIA ALERT

FIVE PEOPLE KILLED IN A HORROR TAXI CRASH

Five people have been killed including a 4-month old baby and a 1-year old toddler in a horrific Taxi crash that occurred on the P291 road in Steildrift outside Newcastle. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accident occurred when two rear tires of the minibus taxi came off and it overturned killing five people instantly.

The taxi was travelling from Madadeni to Dundee with twenty passengers onboard. Fifteen people have been admitted to Madadeni Provincial Hospital and are reported to be in a critical but stable condition.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele has expressed shock and sends his condolences to the bereaved families “We will be sending a team of assessors to conduct a full technical investigation because we need answers as to why the tyres came off.” Cele said.

“The taxi was carrying 20 passengers on board, which is ridiculous and unreasonable. If the taxi had the required number of passengers onboard, we could have lost fewer lives in the crash. I again send a strong message to all taxi drivers that our people are not a load but somebody else’s family members” said Cele.

The driver of the taxi is amongst the injured in hospital. Police investigation is still underway. MEC Cele will visit the injured in Madadeni hospital at 10h00 am on Monday morning (06/02/06). Cele will also visit the accident scene and the RTI Offices in Newcastle where the taxi is impounded.

 

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