Trains collision in South Africa kills 1, injures hundreds

[News_Editor]

Trains collision in South Africa kills 1, injures hundreds

2011-04-09 05:34:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) -- A train driver was killed and hundreds more were injured when two passenger trains collided in the South African city of Pretoria on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The accident happened at around 4 p.m. local time in the Rosslyn area of Pretoria, a city in the northern part of Gauteng Province. It took place on a rail bridge between the Akasiaboom and Winternest train stations.

"Netcare 911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find that two fully-laden passenger coaches collided and thereafter derailed. Two of the carriages overturned adjacent to the tracks," Netcare 911 spokesman Jeffrey Wicks said, adding that most passengers were able to escape the wreckage themselves.

Wicks said one of the train drivers was killed in the accident. "His body is entrapped in the wreckage of the coach," the spokesman said. Another 266 people suffered injuries, including 24 who suffered serious injuries.

"We are devastated by the loss of our train driver and would like to offer our condolences to the family and the co-workers," said Tembela Kulu, Provincial Manager for Metrorail Gauteng. "We've taken great care to ensure that all the injured commuters received medical care as soon as possible and we would like to wish them a speedy recovery. Counselling support is currently been offered to the family of the deceased, colleagues and the injured commuters to assist them cope with this unfortunate experience."

Because of the high number of casualties, Wicks said medics called for additional resources from outlying areas to assist in the transportation of the injured to various medical facilities in the region.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known and Metrorail as well as the Rail Safety Regulator and the South African Police Force have launched an investigation. Train operations in the area have been suspended until the scene has been cleared.

Last month, 58 people were injured when a passenger train partially derailed in Germiston, a city in the East Rand of Geuteng province. The city is best known for having the country's largest railway junction.

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