Durban - Three men and a woman were killed and about 31 people were injured after a Durban Transport bus crashed off an embankment near KwaMashu’s Bridge City shopping centre on Tuesday morning.
Rescue services used helicopters to take some of the injured to hospital.
Immediately after the crash nearby residents and passers-by came to the aid of passengers, who were trapped in the bus, covered in blood and screaming.
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eat cushions, shattered glass, packed lunches, lost shoes and clothing littered the scene.
The bus, on its way to Point from Ntuzuma at 6.30am, fell 50m, rolled several times, caving in its roof and tearing off the back.
Relatives living nearby were shocked at the sight, many falling to their knees and weeping.
Residents said they heard a loud bang, like a bomb exploding.
“We came out and saw the bus. It was bad, just lying there very damaged. Some of the people were lying on the ground. We didn’t know they were dead,” said a woman who did not want to be named.
Another resident said she came out and saw people - covered in blood and screaming - trapped in the bus.
“Some people went to help them and pull them out. Some of the victims were stuck inside and scared. They just couldn’t stop crying.”
They said that some people had come from Ntuzuma, while a few came from the immediate area around the shopping mall.
Another woman added: “They were on their way to town to go to work.”
She said that some of the victims had attended the same church as her, and were well-loved in the community.
“It’s so sad. It’s a loss, a big loss. I came as soon as I heard what happened. I still can’t believe it.”
John Wilkinson, Tansnat Africa general manager, the company that manages the Durban Transport bus fleet, said the driver involved in the accident was a senior driver with many years of experience.
“He said preliminary reports indicated that there was a problem with the steering wheel and the braking system.
“There would appear to have been a problem with the steering mechanism and when he attempted to stop and turn the bus failed to brake,” he said.
Using speed tracking data, he said the bus appeared to have not been speeding at the time of the incident, travelling at an average 52km/h, he said.
Wilkinson said City Fleet was responsible for the maintenance of the buses and said an independent technician must be assigned to assess the roadworthiness of the bus.
Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesman, Zinhle Mngomezulu, said that preliminary interviews with the bus driver - who was seriously injured - was that the bus’s brakes had failed.
“We still have to do a thorough inspection of the vehicle but already we have checked that, according to its disc (issued during routine road checks), it was deemed roadworthy.
She said the bus would be examined by police and the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
MEC for Transport, Community safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
“We are very concerned about the spate of accidents in the last few days, which have claimed lives... I would like to strongly call on all road users to remain vigilant.”
The injured were taken to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and clinics in the area by ambulances.
Daily News