The Kariega community was rocked by the news of a fatal accident between an Algoa Bus and a taxi, which claimed the lives of seven passengers this morning, 4 May, on Mel Brooks Avenue, Kariega.
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, confirmed the crash involving a bus and a taxi.
“Seven people have lost their lives and multiple others sustained injuries following a collision between a minibus taxi and a bus,” he said.
Binqose added that the incident occurred when a fully loaded minibus taxi, transporting workers from KwaNobuhle towards town, allegedly made a U-turn in front of an oncoming Algoa Bus, which had only the driver on board.
“The bus subsequently collided with the passenger side of the taxi,” he stated.
Binqose noted that a total of eighteen people were attended to on the scene.
“Two sustained serious injuries, while others suffered varying degrees of injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.”
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene. “Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the crash,” concluded Binqose.
The Uitenhage and District Taxi Association (UDTA) spokesperson Lubabalo Vesele regretfully shared with UD Express that this is not the first accident of this nature to occur on Mel Brooks Avenue.
“I was on the scene and I must say that the accident could have been avoided,” he said. “The street has only one working streetlight, which makes it very difficult for drivers in the dark.”
Vesele added that this is not the first accident to occur in the vicinity of this one. “There are other accidents that have happened on this road, at the same area of the road as it is at a curve. It is a dangerous stretch of road.”
In addition, Vesele claimed that they had discussions with law enforcement last year to identify places which are unsafe, and they identified Mel Brooks Avenue as a high accident zone.
“We requested that the road be installed with a speed bump to break the speed of fast drivers as people who don’t know this road tend to drive at high speeds,” he said. “We are often told that these things cannot be done because there is no budget, but people are losing their lives while we wait for that budget.”
A KwaNobuhle community leader, Thamsanqa Nkevu, shared a statement regarding the incident. “Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims of today’s horrific accident.
“Our prayers go out to these families and victims,” he concluded.
