VRYSTAAT. — Four people, including three children aged between six and nine, died on Thursday afternoon when a school vehicle and a Mercedes-Benz truck collided head-on on the R59 between Sasolburg and Vaalpark. The JCS Independent School's principal (60), who was driving the Volkswagen Caravelle minibus, one boy and two girls were declared dead at the scene.
AO Josephine Rani, police spokesperson, said the collision occurred at approximately 15:15. The Sasolburg police station is investigating a case of culpable homicide.
The school vehicle was travelling from Vaalpark in the direction of Sasolburg, while the truck was travelling in the direction of Vereeniging. The truck driver survived the collision. According to police, one boy was transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Alberton, while three other children with serious injuries were taken to local hospitals.
JCS Independent School confirmed today (Friday) in a statement that three of its pupils and the school principal, who was driving the vehicle, died in the accident. The school says the families of the deceased have been informed and asks that their privacy be respected. The children's names will not be released until families have given permission.
The school says injured pupils are receiving medical treatment and that counselling will be made available when pupils return to school. All academic and extracurricular activities at JCS Independent School have been suspended in the meantime while the school community grieves the loss. The cause and circumstances of the accident are being investigated.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
