Unexpected House Visit
Four people critically injured as bus crashes into house after freak accident with bakkie
COMING THROUGH: A Translux bus crashed into a house on Friday evening at Dangweni village. The bus company tried to cover the branding and company name with tape on the bus, but community members removed it.
We call on all motorists to be extra cautious and abide by the rules Unathi Binqose Provincial transport spokesman
A sleeping family had a rude awakening on Friday evening when a Translux bus on the N2 between KwaBhaca and Qumbu lost control and landed in their dining room.
No one was killed in the freak accident, but there were some serious injuries, provincial transport authorities confirmed.
The bus and an Isuzu bakkie collided at about 10.30pm, sending the bus veering off the road and into the house in Dangwana village.
While provincial transport spokesman Unathi Binqose yesterday confirmed the accident, numerous attempts to get comment from the family and Translux proved fruitless.
According to Binqose, after connecting with the bakkie and crashing into the house, it left four passengers critically injured and three people with minor injuries.
They were rushed to the nearby Madzikane kaZulu Memorial Hospital.
The bakkie was joining the N2 from Dangwana and both speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol are suspected to be the main contributing factors.
Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana yesterday sent a message of support to the accident survivors and their families, and the family who woke up to a bus in their home.
A case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened at the KwaBhaca police station for further investigation.
On Saturday evening, paramedics declared a driver who was travelling alone dead on the scene after his vehicle overturned on the N2 near Lurhashini village, in Mthatha.
Binqose confirmed the accident.
“Police have collected every piece of evidence they could gather on the scene to try and establish the exact cause of the accident,” Binqose said.
“Early signs point to speeding being one of the contributing factors to this accident.”
“We call on all motorists and pedestrians alike to be extra cautious and abide by the rules at all times,” he said.
Police operated a stop-and-go system for a couple of hours while evidence was gathered.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened.