Cape Town - Four primary school children were treated at Red Cross Children’s Hospital on Thursday morning after they fell out of the back window of a Golden Arrow bus on the N2 highway.
The Golden Arrow Bus Services confirmed on Thursday morning that four children fell out of the back emergency exit window of a Golden Arrow bus while travelling on the N2, sustaining minor to moderate injuries.
Bronwen Dyke, of Golden Arrow Bus Services, said the incident took place at the N2 Raapenberg exit at about 7.25am.
“According to the other children on the bus, four children were playing on top of the seats in quite a boisterous manner and as the bus took the exit they fell into the window, dislodging it, causing them to fall from the bus,” she said.
ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring confirmed that the children sustained minor to moderate injuries, and were taken to Red Cross Children’s Hospital for immediate medical attention.
Dyke said that Golden Arrow officials would be meeting with the children’s parents and their various school principals to discuss the incident.
“At present we know that these are Grade 2 and 3 children and that three of them have minor injuries only, while the fourth child has a broken arm and head injuries We are hopeful that they will all make a speedy recovery,” she said.
Dyke added that while the bus windows were designed to give way under a substantial amount of pressure so they could be used as emergency exits, the incident could not have happened if the children had been in their seats, in accordance with the company’s conditions of carriage.
“We will be looking into ways to ensure that our younger passengers are aware of the potential dangers of not complying with our safety regulations,” she said.
Cape Argus