In Montgomery Park, north of Johannesburg, twelve learners suffered serious injuries after the minibus they were travelling in overturned on Monday. The vehicle, which was operating as a scholar transport service, crashed on Westpark Drive, prompting an immediate response from emergency services who rushed the injured to various hospitals across the area.
According to Xolani Fihla, spokesperson for Johannesburg Metro Police (JMPD), the white Toyota Quantum minibus was involved in a critical situation.
“The minibus was allegedly attempting to overtake another vehicle when the driver lost control, resulting in the collision,” Fihla stated.
Further investigations revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He has been taken into custody at Sophiatown SAPS, facing multiple charges including reckless and negligent driving, along with driving under the influence.
This tragic incident follows another serious crash that occurred earlier the same day on the M1 near Booysens, where multiple injuries were reported after a bus collided with six other vehicles. The chaos is believed to have started from an altercation between a passenger and the bus driver, which ultimately led to the driver losing control of the vehicle and crashing into oncoming traffic. Fortunately, authorities confirmed that no fatalities resulted from this incident.
The increasing number of road incidents in the Johannesburg area has raised concerns among communities regarding the safety of public and scholar transport.
As investigations into both accidents continue, the JMPD is urging drivers to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and prioritise the safety of all passengers.