The death toll in Wednesday’s taxi crash on the N14 near Diepsloot, in Johannesburg, rose to six when a man and a woman were declared dead on arrival at hospital, said ER24.
Spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said two women and two men were declared dead on the scene of the accident, which occurred at 7.30am when a minibus taxi burst a tyre.
Johannesburg emergency management services spokesperson Percy Morokane said a woman was thrown about 100m from the vehicle, suggesting that speed also played a role.
The other occupants of the taxi, which was travelling west towards Honeydew, were critically injured.
“People’s arms were crushed, there was massive head trauma. There are six ambulances on the scene,” said Morokane earlier.
The occupants were strewn across the centre island of the road.
Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the road had been completely blocked to traffic for a helicopter to land. — Sapa