Johannesburg - Four people died and eight were injured when an empty runaway bus ploughed into pedestrians and a taxi in Fontainebleau, Randburg, on Monday.
“The bus first collided (with) a pedestrian, then into a minibus taxi leaving four people dead,” said Netcare 911 spokeswoman Santi Steinmann. Three were in a critical condition.
Joburg metro police spokeswoman Inspector Edna Mamonyane said the bus had broken down at 2pm and the driver went to the depot to order repairs.
“The bus (later) rolled and hit the taxi which had parked on the sidewalk offloading passengers.”
Mamonyane said investigators were still looking at the possibility of foul play and at the roadworthiness of the vehicle.
Metrobus managing director Andre van Niekerk said police were “baffled” by how this could have happened.
“The driver pulled into a bus stop (out of traffic) and he waited 20 minutes.
“The handbrake and everything was on.
“We send our sincere condolences to the families,” said Van Niekerk.
The Star