Five people have lost their lives following a devastating crash on the N6 between Stutterheim and East London in the Eastern Cape on Sunday afternoon.
The collision involved a bus transporting about 60 Zimbabwean passengers and a VW Polo carrying five occupants. Sadly, all five people travelling in the Polo were declared dead at the scene.
According to video footage from the crash site, the impact was severe enough to trap the Polo underneath the bus. Emergency responders had to use specialised rescue equipment, including the Jaws of Life, to cut into the wreckage and remove the bodies from the vehicle.
All 60 passengers who were travelling on the bus sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Authorities have not yet confirmed the severity of their injuries.
Initial information indicates that the bus and the Polo were travelling in opposite directions along the N6 when the collision occurred. The bus appears to have left its lane as the two vehicles collided head-on on the Polo side. However, the exact cause of the crash remains unclear at this stage.
Police in Stutterheim have opened a case of culpable homicide and reckless driving while investigators work to determine what led to the tragic incident.
Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha has extended his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the crash.
Five Dead in N6 Crash as VW Polo Ignores Stop Sign and Collides with Bus
Nqatha also wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery and urged motorists to respect the rules of the road.
Authorities say investigations are continuing as officials try to establish exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
The N6 has seen a number of serious crashes involving heavy vehicles in recent years, again highlighting the risks faced by motorists travelling on busy long distance routes.
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