Driver in court for children’s deaths

File picture: sxc.hu

File picture: sxc.hu

Published Apr 3, 2014

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Rustenburg - The case of a driver accused of killing three children when a train crashed into his car at a railway crossing was postponed in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North West police said.

“The case was postponed to April 17 and he is still in custody,” Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Qawukeni Lwandile, 27, was the driver of a Toyota Avanza carrying 12 pre-primary and primary school children when a train smashed into the vehicle at a railway crossing between Zinniaville and Rustenburg Noord on March 20.

Police alleged that Lwandile passed other motorists who were waiting at the train level-crossing to allow an oncoming train to pass.

The vehicle got stuck on the level crossing and a train hit and dragged it, killing an eight-year-old boy on the spot.

Two more children were declared dead on arrival at the Job Shimkane Tabane hospital.

“The police are also investigating why 12 children were being transported in a vehicle not certified to carry passengers, and would also look into charging the driver with overloading the vehicle, as well as contravention of the National Road Traffic Act,” Mokgwabone said at the time.

Sapa

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