Bloemfontein – A team of accident reconstruction experts have been sent to probe the horror military bus crash in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State which Friday, claimed the lives of 11 women, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.
“The exact cause has not been established. Investigators are at the scene of the incident,” said RTMC spokesman Simon Zwane.
Nine women died on the scene when the bus rolled down an embankment on the R712. Another two women died in hospital.
Free State Department of Police, Road and Transport spokeswoman Hillary Mophethe confirmed a total of 42 people were on the bus – 40 women and two men – all believed to be military officials.
“We learnt that a bus driver lost control of the bus when he failed to apply brakes at a bend. Nine ladies died and then later two in hospital,” said Mophethe.
“They were on their way to the Basotho Cultural activity centre,” she said.
Mophethe said they were trying to confirm whether the bus was on its way to a women’s month event.
Earlier, the head of the province’s emergency medical services, Reuben Ruiters, told the African News Agency (ANA) that nine of the military officers died on the scene while another nine had been taken to hospital in a critical condition.
“We responded with eight ambulances and three rescue vehicles. The injured were taken to the Bethlehem Medi-Clinic and the Bethlehem provincial hospital,” said Ruiters.
Police were on the scene investigating. Mophethe confirmed a culpable homicide docket had been opened.
African News Agency