Johannesburg - Nineteen people were killed and four were critically injured in a collision between a minibus taxi and a truck on the R28 towards Vereeniging, about 6km from Westonaria in Western Gauteng, paramedics said on Sunday.
ER24 spokesperson Chitra Bodasing said paramedics and other services arrived on the scene and found the area “in chaos. Patients were lying all over the scene”.
It was believed that the taxi lost control and the truck collided with it.
“The taxi apparently rolled multiple times and burst into flames. Patients were ejected. Patients sustained multiple injuries, including burn wounds.”
Three people who were critically injured were airlifted to hospital for further medical care. This included a young child. One critically injured person was transported by ambulance and the truck driver, who sustained minor injuries, was transported to hospital as well. The authorities were on the scene, Bodasing said.
Earlier reports put the death toll at 15, and said a tyre burst on the taxi, causing the driver to lose control.
African News Agency