Girl killed, 10 hurt as taxi overturns on N1

Nizaar Marlie

The wreck of the taxi in which a nine-year-old girl died on the N1 yesterday. Ten people, including the driver, were injured. Picture: Nizaar Marlie

Cape Town - A nine-year-old girl was killed when a taxi driver lost control of his vehicle, which overturned on the N1 on Saturday.

Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said another 10 people were injured in the accident, which occurred at 6.30am.

The taxi, carrying a total of 12 people including the driver, was en route to Porterville from Cape Town.

Western Cape Emergency Medical Services spokesman Darren Francis said four of the injuries were serious and six minor.

“The serious injuries range from head and pelvic injuries to lacerations, and those patients were taken to Tygerberg Hospital.

“The other six patients, including the driver, were taken to the Kraaifontein Community Health Centre,” he said.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel André Traut said no one had yet been charged or arrested.

“Circumstances are being investigated and a culpable homicide case docket has been registered,” he said.

Africa suggested that the wet weather may have been a factor.

“From this morning until now (late on Saturday), the city of Cape Town attended to four accidents within the CBD. The weather is bad and roads are wet and slippery.

“People need to adapt their speed to the circumstances and keep a safe following distance on the freeways and national roads,” he said.

In another accident on Friday night, the driver of a bakkie lost control of his vehicle, which overturned between Vredendal and Lutzville.

A 60-year-old woman, who was a passenger on the back of the bakkie, died. - Sunday Argus