A fatal accident involving a City-to-City bus and a truck on the N6 road between Rouxville and Smithfield last Friday (21/07) has left at least five survivors admitted in a Bloemfontein hospital for further treatment. The tragic accident, which reportedly occurred around 04:00, claimed the lives of seven people.
Sipho Towa, spokesperson of the Free State’s emergency medical service (EMS), said the five survivors were transported from the Stoffel Coetzee Hospital in Smithfield. He said they were part of 43 passengers who received medical treatment.
“The death toll remained at seven people who died due to the accident between the truck and the bus. Fatalities include the two drivers. Those still in hospital in Bloemfontein sustained severe injuries, while 36 with minor injuries were discharged the same day after receiving medical treatment,” said Towa. He said the survivors were treated at the Stoffel Coetzee Hospital in Smithfield, adding that nine passengers escaped the accident unharmed.
According to Towa, there were 53 passengers in the bus which transported people to the Eastern Cape towns of Butterworth and Idutywa. He said the cause of the fatal accident was still part of the investigations by the police.
The Rouxville police have opened a case of culpable homicide and the circumstances that led to the accident are under investigation.
