Durban - A South Coast driver has been charged with drunken driving after he lost control of the bus he was driving with 34 schoolchildren on board.
The out-of-control bus fell on its side.
The children, aged from 7 to 12, had been returning home from school on the Harding-Kokstad Road on Monday.
They escaped with minor injuries.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed the 29-year-old driver had been charged with drunken driving and reckless and negligent driving.
“The driver alleged that he lost control of the bus. More than 30 children were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. The cause of the crash is under investigation,” Naicker said.
Naicker said a breathalyser test was performed by traffic officials at the scene.
The bus was impounded and taken to the Road Traffic Inspectorate in Oslo Beach for a roadworthy test.
Netcare 911 spokesman, Chris Botha, said the bus fell on its side and obstructed the highway.
He said the children were treated for minor injuries and taken to local hospitals.
Meanwhile 16 people, including a 19-month-old baby, were injured when a minibus taxi and a car collided in Edendale Road, Pietermaritzburg.
ER24 spokeswoman, Luyanda Majija, said one man was trapped in the taxi and sustained head injuries. The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals.
Daily News