Five pre-school children were injured when a massive 18-wheel truck’s brakes failed and rammed into their school bus in Kraaifontein early Monday morning.
The Toyota Quantum van the kiddies were travelling in was knocked off the road on the corner of Maroela Street and Old Paarl Road and into a ditch.
The truck skidded to a halt a few metres away.
Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene and the children were treated on the scene and then transported to the Kraaifontein Day Hospital.
The little ones, all aged four and five, were treated for whiplash, according to emergency staff on the scene.
The children had been on their way to daycare in Bloekombos.
IMPACT: Moerse 18-wheel truck. Picture: Solly Lottering
Worried parents arrived at the scene and the truck driver looked shocked as he explained to the police and traffic officials on the scene what had happened.
The 39-year-old Zimbabwean driver said he was coming onto Maroela Circle when he felt the brakes on the empty truck fail: “I was coming from the N1 at Kraaifontein and I felt no brakes. I pumped and pumped the brakes, but the truck did not slow down.
“There was a taxi in the traffic circle already and I blew the truck’s horn twice to warn the driver.
“I hit the taxi on the left side and the impact knocked it into the air over the ditch.
“I was in shock and first ran away from the accident scene. I thought the people would kill me, but I came back.
“It was an accident and I will help pay for the children and their hospital care.
SAFETY: The kids, all aged four to five, were treated by medics. Picture: Solly Lottering
Police spokesperson, Siyabulela Malo, confirms: “An accident occurred on the corner of Maroela [Street] and Old Paarl Road in Bloekombos, Kraaifontein, yesterday at about 6.20am.
“It has been reported that two vehicles, a truck and a taxi, had collided.
“It can be further confirmed that the taxi vehicle was occupied by pre-school children. Both police and traffic were on the scene and an accident report was opened.”