The Free State Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services is expected to commence conducting an autopsy on all the victims of the fatal crash involving a truck and the long-distance City-to-City passenger bus company, today – Friday, 7 March. The postmortems will be carried on the ten deceased of the tragic accident which occurred on the N6 in the early morning of Wednesday, 5 March.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the Forensic Pathology Services will carry out all postmortems at the Welkom state mortuary. He said the authority was already in the process of tracing and notifying the next of kin to positively identify the victims. Among the deceased was a minor.
Their bodies were transported to Welkom as the state mortuary in Bloemfontein remains closed since October, after the Department of Labour issued a prohibition order following the discovery of violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Mvambi said the majority of the people who survived with minor injuries from the tragic accident, had been discharged from the Stoffel Coetzee District Hospital in Smithfield and the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein. He said 18 passengers were discharged the same day after receiving treatment at Stoffel Coetzee.
“Three passengers admitted at the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital are awaiting surgery, while the other two with minor injuries have been discharged. Additionally, arrangements are being made for psychosocial debriefing for all emergency services personnel involved in the incident,” said Mvambi.
He said 27 passengers survived the fatal accident, which reportedly occurred approximately 15 km south of Reddersburg, towards Smithfield. The bus was reportedly travelling in the direction of Smithfield, while the truck with two trailers was travelling in the opposite direction on the N6. The road was temporarily closed to enable the extrication of trapped individuals from the bus, using hydraulic rescue tools.
Families and relatives seeking information about their relatives involved in the accident are advised to contact the Free State Forensic Pathology Services in Bloemfontein on 051-430-2954 and the Welkom mortuary manager, OT Kopane, on 083-449-4527 (office line). Alternatively, call 078-130-1658.
