/ 17 October 2007

Pupils injured as truck crashes into school

At least 14 Durban school pupils were injured on Wednesday when a tipper lorry crashed into a school in the Lindelani area, north of Durban, police said.

Police spokesperson Inspector Michael Read said a truck ploughed into a high school, injuring pupils.

ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks said they had transported 14 school pupils to hospital.

”All had minor injuries,” he said.

KwaMashu police spokesperson Constable Siwe Nxumalo confirmed that there were no other reported injuries.

The incident took place at Umtapho High School before 9am while matric pupils had started writing their exams.

Bhengu Mxolisi (18), a pupil writing his maths paper, said: ”I didn’t think it was this … We just heard the sound and then we heard learners screaming. And when I looked out the window — they were stoning the driver of the lorry.”

He said there was nothing he could do, not even look because he had to continue writing his paper.

Fellow matriculant Sibonella Mgiba said: ”I first thought the learners were fighting amongst each other. I didn’t think a truck would hit the school.”

The lorry had apparently been travelling from an adjacent piece of ground where an excavation was taking place when it ploughed into the school.

A police source said the lorry driver was saved because he slumped forward before the lorry hit the building, destroying the top of the cab.

Police at the scene suspected the driver had a blackout because of his low sugar-level reading, but ER24 could not confirm this. — Sapa