Bloemfontein - At least 39 people were injured, some critically, in two separate road accidents involving single vehicles in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday morning, paramedics said.
About 18 people were injured when the driver of a minibus taxi lost control and the vehicle rolled on the R702 in Dinaweng near Bloemfontein in the Free State, ER24 spokeswoman Annine Siddall said.
ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene around 11.30am and found some of the passengers lying outside the taxi and some walking around on the scene. About six people sustained moderate injuries and 12 more sustained minor injuries.
ER24 transported six of the patients to nearby hospitals for further medical care and other emergency services on the scene attended to the rest of the patients, she said.
In the second incident, at least two people were in a critical condition after a bakkie transporting 21 people rolled on the N2 southbound in Amanzimtoti, just south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, Siddall said.
ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene, also around 11.30am and found some of the passengers lying in the slow lane and others in the emergency lane of the N2.
"A baby of about six months and an elderly man sustained serious injuries. Approximately 19 more people sustained moderate to minor injuries."
ER24 transported three of the patients to nearby hospitals for further medical care and other emergency services on the scene attended to the rest of the patients. Authorities were investigating both incidents, Siddall said.