Central SA
One dies in fatal Roodepoort train crash─── 09:50 Thu, 13 Feb 2020
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) says its Premier Classe passenger train collided with a Transnet stationary goods train between Roodepoort and Horizon Station in the west of Johannesburg, on Wednesday night.
Prasa spokesperson, Nana Zenani, says the passenger train departed from Cape Town on Tuesday with 36 passengers - five of which disembarked in Kimberley, leaving 31 passengers on board.
"Preliminary reports regarding injuries are that approximately four passengers have been injured and taken to Krugersdorp hospital. One passenger was airlifted to Millpark Hospital and one unfortunate fatality," says Zenani.
Alternative transport was then organised for the rest of the passengers to their various destinations.
Main Line Passenger Services Teams are at the accident scene with investigation underway to establish the cause of the accident.
"Metrorail services will be affected along the Randfontein to Johannesburg lines with commuters advised to make alternative transport arrangements," says Zenani.
Photo by NetCare 911
Meanwhile, NetCare911's Shawn Herbst says when paramedics arrived on the scene, they found that one person - an adult male - had sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased on the scene.
"One person, an adult female, had sustained critical injuries and required Advanced Life Support intervention to stabilise her before the Netcare 911 Specialised Helicopter Air Ambulance airlifted her to a specialist hospital," says Herbst.
Herbst says it is believed the deceased male and the critically injured female are both German tourists.
Jacaranda FM