Horrific scene of Metro bus collission.
Pic: Rosebank Killarney Gazette
A pregnant woman and a bus driver have died while scores of people have been left injured after two Metro buses were involved in a head-on collision with each other.
The accident occurred just after 8am this morning on Jan Smuts Avenue near the Johannesburg Zoo.
Metro Police spokesperson, Superintendent Edna Mamonyane said, “One of the buses was seemingly speeding along a curve.”
Johannesburg Transport Spokesperson, Nico de Jager said, “The bus driving south was speeding, roads were still very wet, these buses aren’t old, definitely driver error.” He went on to to say that the bus hit a barricade and swerved, hitting the double-decker bus.
Among the injured 15 are believed to be in critical condition. Paramedics and firefighters had to climb through the top window of one of the Metro buses to treat trapped patients.
The Woman, who was about five to six months pregnant died on arrival at the hospital while the driver of the double-decker died on the scene.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman, Nana Radebe said “The woman was believed to have been seated on the top section of the bus”
She was among the first people to be rescued.
Some passengers were still trapped in the buses at 10am this morning, including the driver of the other Metro bus.
Metro Police Chief Superintendent, Wayne Minnaar said, “Many people were injured. The accident happened at Jan Smuts Avenue and Lower Park at the Johannesburg Zoo.”
Rescue workers said the number of those injured in the crash is now at 65.
Minnaar said Jan Smuts Avenue and Lower Park Road will be closed in both directions until the accident scene is cleared.
“The cause of the accident is being investigated,” said Minaar.
