Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
24 October 2022
Seven (7) people were killed instantly when a minibus taxi that they were travelling in, was hit by an articulated truck on its right side on the R50 Road between Leandra and Standerton on Sunday night, 23 October 2022.
The driver of the minibus taxi is among the deceased and five (5) of the victims are women.
Two (2) people were seriously injured and among them, is the driver of the truck and one passenger who was in the minibus taxi.
Two minibus taxi passenger escaped with slight injuries.
The injured are currently receiving treatment at Evander Hospital.
The road was closed for hours as the emergency personnel and law enforcement officers were working on clearing the scene. It was later partially opened for traffic.
At the time of the crash, the truck was conveying coal from Standerton to Leandra while the minibus taxi was believed to be transporting passengers from a church meeting in KwaZulu Natal to Devon.
Although the investigation is already underway, reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, is conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and also wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery.
Shongwe yet again appealed to motorists to observe the rules and play their part to making our roads safer.
“While we are awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the crash, we are once more making a plea to motorists to play their part and obey the rules.
It is saddening for families to lose their loved ones as a result of crashes that are mostly avoidable,” said the MEC.
