Kimberley - Two people, including a 17-year-old pupil from Hoërskool Landboudal in Jacobsdal, were killed and 27 others injured when a school bus, transporting pupils to a sporting event in Kimberley, was involved in an accident Tuesday afternoon.
The Grade 11 pupils, Nico Grobler, who was travelling in the school bus, was killed on impact.
The accident happened shortly before 2pm on Tuesday afternoon about six kilometres from Jacobsdal on the R705 between Jacobsdal and Modderrivier.
Three vehicles, including a red BMW, which was travelling from Kimberley towards Jacobsdal, and the school bus travelling towards Kimberley, were involved in the incident.
The two vehicles apparently collided head-on. A Condor also apparently then crashed into the school bus.
The driver of the BMW, a 35-year-old man, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was also killed in the accident.
The pupils were apparently on their way to Technical High School in Kimberley to compete in a tug-of-war event.
Free State police spokesman Constable Peter Kareli on Tuesday confirmed the two deaths and said that 23 occupants of the bus, as well as four people in the Condor were injured and transported to hospital in Kimberley.
Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesman, added that ER24 paramedics, along with other services, responded to the scene, where they found a school bus lying on its side next to the road.
“Pieces of a wrecked light motor vehicle and a SUV were scattered across the scene,” Meiring said
“On assessment, paramedics found the body of a young boy inside the bus. The body of the second victim was discovered still trapped in the vehicle. The man died as a result of his injuries prior the arrival of paramedics. Both patients were declared dead on scene.
“Patients were transported to various hospitals in Kimberley for further treatment,” he added.
Hoërskool Landboudal principal, Henco Gericke, was still in shock on Tuesday following the incident and the death of Grobler, and said that the school was assisting injured learners, as well as counselling fellow pupils and parents.
DFA