/ 18 August 2006

Twenty-one children injured in Durban taxi crash

Twenty-one children aged between four and eight were injured when their taxi crashed into a bakkie in Durban on Friday, ER24 said.

Spokesperson Neil Noble said the accident happened on Matheren Road in Durban at 7am.

”The bakkie was stopped at a red robot and the taxi literally drove into the back of him,” he said. ”The taxi driver claims his brakes failed, but on examination by police [the vehicle] was found to be in good working order.”

One child was in a serious condition, while the others suffered minor injuries.

They were taken to the Mahatma Gandhi hospital.

”But we have encountered a bit of a problem. We need to contact their parents, but none of the children speak English.

”There will be a social worker coming in, so hopefully they will be able to tell us something,” said Noble.

He said the two vehicles were damaged, but the drivers were not injured. — Sapa