Johannesburg – Fifteen people were injured Friday morning after a taxi drove through a wall and crashed into a tree at the Commando and Main Reef Road intersection in Industria, south of Johannesburg, ER24 paramedics said.
ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said that paramedics found the taxi smashed up against a tree in a parking area when they arrived on the scene.
"Several passengers had already climbed out of the vehicle and were walking around on the scene. Upon closer inspection, paramedics found a woman lying trapped in the front seat of the taxi, in a critical condition."
Meiring said a critically injured woman was rescued with the help of specialised rescue equipment.
"A worker from a nearby factory utilised his forklift to stabilise the taxi, which had come to rest on a light incline. Once freed, paramedics treated the woman and provided her with numerous advanced life support interventions," he said.
The woman was later transported to a nearby private hospital for further treatment.
"The 14 other patients on scene were assessed and found to have sustained minor to moderate injuries. They were treated and transported to Helen Joseph Hospital for further treatment," Meiring said.
It is understood that the driver of the taxi lost control of his vehicle. Local authorities were on the scene to investigate further.