This now brings the death toll to 13 after 10 were declared dead on the scene. One body was found underneath the taxi, taking the toll to 11. Following this two more bodies were discovered after the taxi, which had overturned, was tipped back by Emergency Personnel.

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The bodies were found at the scene of the accident, after three other bodies were trapped inside the taxi. A taxi driver is among the deceased whilst the truck driver survived the accident unharmed.

ALSO READ: N1 accident fatalities up to 11

According to police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, the minibus involved in the fatal collision with the truck was travelling from Johannesburg in Gauteng to Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.  

Thakeng says a case of culpable homicide is being investigated but he does not mention if someone was apprehended following the accident.

“This morning, on 12 December 2022 at about 03:25, a head-on collision occurred between a truck and minibus Quantum. The minibus was travelling from Johannesburg to Sterkspruit and the truck was travelling in the opposite direction. The number of people who were certified dead at the accident increased to 12 with three still trapped inside the minibus,” Thakeng further adds.

Meanwhile according to the provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Sipho Towa, the final count from the scene of the accident, including those who passed, indicates that those who died include 7 males and 4 children, among others.

Two people were left critically injured and one sustained minor injuries. They were all transported to the Pelonomi Trauma Hospital in Bloemfontein.

OFM News