NINE members of the Zion Christian Church and another civilian died in two separate accidents that happened almost at the same spot on Sunday night and Monday morning.
Provincial roads and transport department spokesman Thesan Moodley said that driver fatigue appeared to have been the cause of both accidents.
In the first accident ZCC members were travelling in a bus from the church's prayer meeting in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, when the accident happened on the N1 between Matoks and Polokwane.
According to Captain Mohlaka Mashiane the driver of a bus ferrying church members to KwaZulu-Natal lost control. The bus hit a bridge and plunged into a stream.
Mashiane said eight people died on the spot while a ninth - a woman believed to be in her 40s - died on arrival at a local hospital.
He said the second accident happened very close to the first one at about 4am yesterday. Mashiane said the driver of the bus, also carrying ZCC members from Tembisa in Gauteng, was allegedly driving in the wrong lane when he collided with a Nissan Sentra sedan.
The driver of the smaller car, who was alone, died on the spot, while the occupants of the bus and their driver escaped unhurt.
"We are currently investigating the causes of both accidents," Mashiane. said
"We also send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the accidents. while wishing the injured victims a speedy recovery."
Joe Maila of the provincial department of health and social development said they had transported the injured to various hospitals around Polokwane.
By late yesterday, Maila said, 26 of the 27 victims transported to Mankweng Hospital, had been discharged after they were found to have sustained minor injuries, Only while one had been seriously injured.
He said 12 of the victims were taken to Seshego Hospital and 11 of had been discharged, while one was still "being observed."
Six of the bus victims were taken to Polokwane Hospital, two with serious but not critical injuries.
"We are grateful to our emergency medical services personnel for having responded quickly to the accident in an effort to save more lives that could have been lost," Maila said.
Accident claims 10
NINE members of the Zion Christian Church and another civilian died in two separate accidents that happened almost at the same spot on Sunday night and Monday morning.
Provincial roads and transport department spokesman Thesan Moodley said that driver fatigue appeared to have been the cause of both accidents.
In the first accident ZCC members were travelling in a bus from the church's prayer meeting in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, when the accident happened on the N1 between Matoks and Polokwane.
According to Captain Mohlaka Mashiane the driver of a bus ferrying church members to KwaZulu-Natal lost control. The bus hit a bridge and plunged into a stream.
Mashiane said eight people died on the spot while a ninth - a woman believed to be in her 40s - died on arrival at a local hospital.
He said the second accident happened very close to the first one at about 4am yesterday. Mashiane said the driver of the bus, also carrying ZCC members from Tembisa in Gauteng, was allegedly driving in the wrong lane when he collided with a Nissan Sentra sedan.
The driver of the smaller car, who was alone, died on the spot, while the occupants of the bus and their driver escaped unhurt.
"We are currently investigating the causes of both accidents," Mashiane. said
"We also send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the accidents. while wishing the injured victims a speedy recovery."
Joe Maila of the provincial department of health and social development said they had transported the injured to various hospitals around Polokwane.
By late yesterday, Maila said, 26 of the 27 victims transported to Mankweng Hospital, had been discharged after they were found to have sustained minor injuries, Only while one had been seriously injured.
He said 12 of the victims were taken to Seshego Hospital and 11 of had been discharged, while one was still "being observed."
Six of the bus victims were taken to Polokwane Hospital, two with serious but not critical injuries.
"We are grateful to our emergency medical services personnel for having responded quickly to the accident in an effort to save more lives that could have been lost," Maila said.
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