Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

An ambulance taking a woman and her newborn baby to hospital allegedly slipped off the road, plunging into a tree and killing her instantly.

The accident happened on Sunday night in Mica near Phalaborwa, Limpopo, while the 31-year-old woman was with her newborn baby daughter in the back of the ambulance.

The woman, identified as Monica Mokgabe, was visiting her boyfriend who works at a mine in Mica when she felt labour pains.

An ambulance was called to take her to hospital. When it finally arrived, Mokgabe had already given birth with the help of her boyfriend's boss.

Mokgabe needed medical treatment and boarded the ambulance. She died after the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

The ambulance left the road and hit a tree, killing her instantly.

The baby sustained minor injuries and was taken to Polokwane Hospital. She was discharged yesterday.

Sources at the hospital told Sowetan that the ambulance driver had allegedly been drinking the whole day before being summoned to the scene. The driver has denied that he was drunk.