Johannesburg - At least ten people have died and eight others have been seriously injured when a military bus rolled down an embankment on the R712 in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park on Friday, Free State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) said.
“On scene nine military officials lost their lives. Nine were seriously injured. The others had minor injuries,” said EMS provincial head Reuben Ruiters. “We responded with eight ambulances and three rescue vehicles. The injured were taken to the Bethlehem Medi-Clinic and the Bethlehem provincial hospital.”
Ruiters said a total of 42 military officials were on the bus. Private ambulance services ER24 and Netcare911 said they had also sent ambulances and personnel to assist. Netcare911 spokesman Chris Botha declined to confirm whether the bus passengers were members of the SANDF or civilians.
“I cannot disclose who were the passengers of the bus at the moment. What we can say that the bus was coming down the hill and it overturned,” Botha said. “The accident is being investigated at the moment and all the injured have been hospitalized.”
Botha said the death toll rose to 10 after one of the injured died soon after arriving at hospital. -
African News Agency