Africa-Press – South-Africa. Police have launched a probe into an accident that claimed the lives of three children in Durban on Thursday.
The accident happened in the Ematabetulu area in Inanda when a taxi driver lost control of his vehicle and drove into four pupils returning home from school, said police spokespersons Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo.
Robert Mckenzie, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services, said paramedics treated 14 people for serious and minor injuries.
He confirmed that three people had died in the accident, which had seen the minibus taxi crash down an embankment.
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Rescue Unit South Africa’s Prem Belram said one of the children was trapped under the wreckage.
Belram said:
Ngcobo said three pupils, aged 12 and 13, died at the scene.
The driver, 12 passengers and a fourth pupil were rushed to hospital, she said.
“Charges of culpable homicide and reckless or negligent driving were opened at Inanda police station for investigation,” Ngcobo added.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said the department was still gathering information on the cause of the accident.
“Officials are now trying to verify the details, and we have sent a team to go and ascertain [what happened],” he said.
Mthethwa added that the department would be working with police and the transport department.
“It’s sad news for us as a sector, as well as the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We send our condolences to those families and pray for those who are injured,” he added.
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