The death toll in the horrific crash between a fuel tanker and a City Liner bus yesterday has risen to five.
The accident occurred on March 21 around 09:20 on the N2 near Kwelera, between East London and Kei Bridge.
According to Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for the Department of Transport, a City Liner bus (operated by Eldo Coaches) filled with passengers heading towards East London, collided with a fuel tanker travelling the opposite direction.
Binqose confirmed that one of the injured people, who were taken to hospital, succumbed to his injuries last night.
This brings the death toll to five (four men and a woman), which includes the two drivers, the co-driver and two passengers.
According to Binqose two more bodies were found when the bus was removed.
“The tanker caught fire after the crash. We don’t know the actual number of people who were inside this bus, maybe the bus company would supply us with that information. We all know the number of people who were transported to hospital and those who unfortunately died in that accident,” said Binqose.
He confirmed that 18 passengers were injured and were transport to Frere Hospital.
According to him it was a head-on collision, one of the drivers was on the wrong side of the road. “At this stage we cannot confirm whether one of the drivers was trying to overtake or was sleeping – that will be clarified by the investigation.”
ICYMI | Two dead, many injured in crash between bus and fuel tanker on N2
