Tears flowed on Thursday as the family and friends of the young Franklin family, who were killed when their car collided head-on with a bus on the notorious Moloto Road, paid their final respects.
One-year-old Bradley and his three-year-old sister Miné, along with their mother, Eunice, and father, Mark, were killed when their car collided with a Putco bus transporting commuters to Pretoria. The family were heading home to their farm in Klopperbos.
The accident critically injured bus passenger Joyce Ramanoa, 43, who had a leg amputated at the crash scene and the other later at hospital.
Ramanoa, who was thrown from the bus by the force of the impact, is currently recovering in Unitas Hospital’s intensive care unit.
As mourners gathered on Thursday at the Lyttelton North NG Kerk, the siblings’ uncle, Dirk de Villers, said the family was devastated by what had happened.
“We are at a complete loss over what has happened. There is no way to explain it except to say that it was God’s will and we have to accept it as such,” he said.
Describing the family as extremely close, De Villiers said that Bradley and Miné were their parents’ life. “Mark and Eunice lived for their children. They were their everything,” he said.
Meanwhile, Unitas Hospital spokeswoman, Isobel Fowler said Ramanoa, who had undergone several operations, was recovering well.
She underwent two more operations, one to amputate the leg a bit higher and the third, on Wednesday, to assess and seal the injuries off.
“She is doing very well and might be out of ICU soon,” she said. - Pretoria News