Two people were killed in a crash between a bakkie and a bus about 30km from Bethlehem on Thursday, Free State police said.
The bus was travelling from QwaQwa towards Bethlehem when it collided with the bakkie transporting meat from Bethlehem on the R714 around 8.50am, Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said.
The two people in the bakkie, both from Bohlokong outside Bethlehem, died on the scene.
ER24 spokesman Andre Visser said paramedics found the two people trapped in the wreckage of the bakkie. They died later of their injuries.
Mophiring said some of the passengers in the bus were taken to hospitals in Bohlokong and Bethlehem for treatment.
The bus driver and 15 other passengers were treated for minor injuries.
It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.
Police said the names of the deceased could not be released before their next-of-kin had identified them. A culpable homicide docket was opened. – Sapa