6 pupils die after bus and train collide

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NATIONAL NEWS & VIDEO - A sixth learner involved in the horrific crash between a train and school bus last night has died in hospital.

The child was one of 20 injured in the accident, which happened just after 16:00 yesterday when their bus collided with a train on the R104 Road near Mafube Village between Wonderfontein and Arnot.

The bus was transporting roughly 30 learners. Five children died on the scene and 20 were injured.

In a press release issued shortly after the incident, Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Macie, sent his condolences to the affected families and expressed wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

He called for a thorough investigation regarding the tragedy and said that the law must take its course to punish whoever would be found at fault.

Last night, the Middelburg Observer reported that the bodies of five learners from Morneg Combined School in the Wonderfontein were transported to the Middelburg Pathology Department following the horrific accident.

The scene of the crash. Photo: Sourced

The crash was posted on the Middelburg Traffic Alert WhatsApp group, which helped dispatch emergency services to the scene and keep officers updated.

The police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Distressed family members could be seen carrying buckets filled with soil to cover blood stains.

Some members of the community were gathered at the scene to assist in identifying the bodies before they were transported to the state mortuary.

One learner’s body was trapped in the bus, one was under the train, and two others were found near the accident scene.

Shoes, bags and various other items were seen scattered around the accident scene.

The bus driver was nearly attacked at the scene by angry residents. However, the driver was eventually transported to hospital for medical treatment.

Speaking to the media on the scene, the spokesperson of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Jasper Zwane, said his department was devastated by the incident and pledged support to the families during this traumatic time.

He added that the MEC of Education, Landulile Catherine Dlamini, will be in Middelburg today.