19 April 2009

26 ANC supporters in a bus en route to the massive ANC Siyanqoba rally at the Coca Cola stadium in Doornfontein, Johannesburg, were injured after their bus overturned north of the city at this morning.

One of the injured, a woman in her thirties, is fighting for her life in a Johannesburg hospital after being airlifted from the scene

The Putco bus, carrying about 40 ANC supporters, overturned when a car smashed into its side at an intersection on the R55 near Olievenhoutbosch at about 9am.

City of Tshwane emergency services spokesman Console Tleane said the seriously injured woman was flung from the bus as it rolled onto its side after the impact.

Netcare 911 spokesman Nick Dollman said the woman suffered severe head and facial injurious and was airlifted to the Sunninghill hospital.

The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta, who ignored a stop sign and smashed into the rear axle of the bus, scrambled out of the wreckage of his car and fled the scene, leaving two injured passengers behind.

The impact caused the bus’s axle to come off and the bus driver lost control of the vehicle following which it overturned.

The wrecked bus is now blocking traffic on the R55 heading south.

Police are interviewing one of his passengers, a woman, and they are now also hunting for the driver.

Also view the Blog post on Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog