By Motshwari Mofokeng
Buffelsdraai, KZN – Seven learners were injured on Tuesday morning after the minibus taxi transporting them to school crashed into a tree on Hillcrest Drive in Buffelsdraai, north of Durban.
The taxi was carrying 16 learners when the accident occurred. According to the 57-year-old driver, he was travelling up a slight incline when he attempted to select a lower gear.
The driver alleged that the gear failed to engage, after which the vehicle experienced brake failure and began rolling backwards down the road. The taxi eventually crashed rear-first into a tree.
Seven learners sustained minor injuries in the crash, while the remaining passengers escaped without serious injury.
Paramedics from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) and KZN VIP responded to the scene and treated the injured learners before transporting them to hospital for further medical care.
The incident caused concern among parents and community members, highlighting once again the dangers faced by learners who depend on public transport to get to and from school each day.
The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged mechanical failure were not immediately clear.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
