A Pietermaritzburg woman who owns a day-care centre for toddlers accidentally drove her car into ten of her charges on Tuesday, killing one and injuring the others, police said.
Superintendent Henry Budhram said the accident took place at Oriental Daycare Centre in Pietermaritzburg’s Orient Heights suburb shortly after 3pm.
Apparently the woman’s husband arrived home and parked his car in front of the garage. The woman later decided to move the car, but instead of reversing she engaged the wrong gear and drove into the garage, striking the children.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said an eight-month-old baby was killed and another was critically injured. Seven other babies were all described as being in a serious condition.
Paramedics took seven of the toddlers to various hospitals and clinics while parents rushed the others to hospital.
Botha said most of the toddlers were between the ages of three and four.
Budhram said a case of culpable homicide was being investigated.
He said the woman had apparently broken down and had been taken to hospital in ”a severely traumatised state”. – Sapa