Girl, 6, among 2 killed in accidents

A 6-YEAR-OLD girl was killed and 13 others were injured when a minibus taxi overturned on the N1 between Touwsrivier and Laingsburg yesterday.

Four children were injured when the driver allegedly lost control of the taxi at about 1am.

The taxi is believed to have travelled from the Eastern Cape, according to an official at the Breede Valley mayor’s office.

Provincial Transport Department spokesperson Byron la Hoe said the girl was one of two people to have been killed in accidents at the weekend.

Another person was killed on Beach Road in Muizenberg on Saturday night in a threecar pile-up.

In that incident, two others were seriously injured and two people suffered minor injuries.

Separate to that, La Hoe said 23 motorists were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol at the weekend.

Four were arrested in Mossel Bay, three in George, three in Swellendam, three in Beaufort West, two in Brackenfell, two in Knysna, two in Somerset West, two in Caledon, one in Vredenburg and one in Worcester.

“In addition, traffic officers made five arrests: four drunken pedestrians in Vredendal, and a person for false documentation in Mossel Bay.

“Breath testing was performed on 2 119 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Swellendam service area. At 1.12mg of alcohol 1 000ml of breath, this is almost five times the legal limit of 0.24mg/1 000ml,” La Hoe said.

A total of 55 speedsters were caught, and 327 fines worth R415 350 were issued.

The highest speeds recorded were 148km/h in a 100km/h zone in Mossel Bay and 142km/h in a 120km/h zone in Beaufort West.