19 killed in Vaal bus crash

Image: ER24

NATIONAL NEWS - At least 19 people were killed on Monday morning when a Putco bus plummeted off a bridge in Meyerton in the Vaal Triangle, paramedics said.

ER24 spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson said the bus was carrying about 70 people of "working age".

"Our figure is a preliminary one at this stage, as emergency personnel are still working on the scene," she said.

Before 1pm, she said emergency personnel were lifting the bus to check if there were any other people stuck in the wreckage.

"At this stage, it's not clear how many people were in the bus. When this scene has been cleared I can be in a position to give you actual figures of the patient count," she said.

Jackson said the injured were rushed to different hospitals in the greater Vaal region, while the critically injured were airlifted to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, which hit the rails of the bridge then plummeted 10 metres to the ground, landing on its side.

Source : Sapa/George Herald

SAWDOS: This is really sad. Thankfully the ravine was not full of water or more people would have died. This takes my thoughts back to the Westdene and Saulspoort Dam bus disasters in which 42 scholars and 51 Cosatu members died. Condolences to all the family and friends who lost loved ones yesterday. A big thank you to all the emergency personal who responded to the accident and rendered the necessary rescue services needed.