Thirteen die in horrific Touws River bus crash

Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works

At about 2am this morning, a long distance bus carrying 64 passengers overturned on the N1 just outside Touws River, in the direction of Cape Town. We can confirm that the crash has claimed 13 lives, while seriously injuring another 31. The scenes at the site of the crash have been described as “chaotic”, with many bodies believed to have been ejected from the bus at the time of the crash.

The cause of this horrific crash is not yet known. Provincial Traffic Services, together with the South African Police Service (SAPS), are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.

The injured were immediately rushed to Worcester Hospital to receive treatment. The N1 has since been reopened to traffic.

On behalf of the Western Cape Government, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the 13 people who suffered this unnecessary and premature demise, and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

I should also like to thank all the emergency personnel, paramedics and firefighters, who were on scene attending to the injured and freeing those that had been trapped inside the overturned bus.

My department will assist the SAPS in their investigation, and will continue to work tirelessly, in partnership with the citizens of this province, to make our roads safer. It is in times like these that we are reminded that the deaths occuring on our roads are not only tragic and unfortunate, but are entirely avoidable through responsible road use, and complete adherence to the rules of the road.