Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has released the accident report for the fatal bus versus truck crash that killed 15 people and injured 42 others in Pretoria last week Friday.
The report blames driver error on the part of the truck driver who allegedly let his vehicle encroach into the lane of the bus causing the horrific head-on accident.
“The report concluded that driver error is the major contributing factor to the cause of the crash because the truck driver allowed his vehicle to veer off its original lane of travel onto the oncoming lane resulting in a head-on crash,” Mbalula said.
The report further states that both drivers had valid EC1 drivers’ licenses and Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs), though one of the drivers was a foreign national, he had all the required documentation including the valid register.
Mbalula added that the weather conditions on the day also contributed to the horrific accident.
He released the preliminary report into the crash in Pretoria that left more than 40 people injured on Friday.
Mbalula further mentioned that the Road Accident Fund would be assisting the affected families to process claims.
On the early hours of the morning seven days ago on M17, the country experienced one of the most horrific road crashes between a bus and a truck.
Fifteen (15) died on the scene and 37 others were rushed to hospital with varying degrees of injuries for urgent medical attention pic.twitter.com/4GPi1kkn1e
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) June 17, 2022
“Since the advent of this gruesome accident, we relentlessly visited the bereaved families. We know that all the people who died were the only breadwinners in their families and they died while on their way to work to earn a living for their families. The hopes of many were dashed by the crash.”
