Sixteen people have been hospitalised following a taxi crash at the intersection of Eiselen and Sibeko Streets in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.
The incident involved a Toyota Siyaya carrying 16 occupants, which collided with stationary tyre-repair containers at the intersection.
The Etwatwa Fire Station received the emergency call at approximately 14:50 today and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.
On arrival, firefighters assessed the situation and found the taxi driver trapped behind the steering wheel. The other 15 occupants had already been assisted out of the vehicle by members of the public and moved to a place of safety.
Rescue personnel managed to safely extricate the trapped driver without causing further injuries.
Gauteng Provincial Government Ambulance Services dispatched several ambulances to transport the injured to medical facilities across Ekurhuleni.
Medical teams applied a triage system to prioritise the most seriously injured patients.
Two adults — the male driver and a female passenger — sustained critical injuries and were treated as priority cases.
Two other passengers, an adult and a 15-year-old male teenager, sustained serious injuries but were reported to be in a stable condition.
The remaining 12 occupants sustained minor trauma.
All 16 patients were transported from the scene to various medical facilities for further medical care.
The occupants of the tyre-repair containers were not injured in the crash.
It is alleged that the taxi was travelling at high speed and that its braking system failed as it approached the intersection. The circumstances surrounding the crash will, however, form part of the investigation.
The scene was subsequently handed over to law enforcement officials, who commenced their investigation into the accident.
Source: EK FM Newsroom
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