South Africa taxi accident kills 11

[News_Editor]

South Africa taxi accident kills 11

2012-03-13 00:32:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

UMZIMKULU, South Africa (BNO NEWS) -- Eleven people were killed on Monday morning when an illegal taxi collided with a truck in the eastern region of South Africa, emergency officials said. Roads in South Africa are among the world's most dangerous.

The accident happened when a truck and a Toyota Venture collided on the R56 road between the towns of Kokstad and Umzimkulu in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, according to provincial road traffic management spokeswoman Zinhle Mngomezulu.

The Toyota Venture was reportedly being used as an illegal taxi as it was not registered, officials said. Mngomezulu said eleven people were killed in the accident, although she could not say whether all of the fatalities were riding in the illegal taxi. Several people were injured.

The victims were taken to Rietvlei hospital where two of those injured were in a critical condition, health officials said. Several others were in a serious condition, but the number of those hospitalized was not immediately known.

South African Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, commenting on Monday's accident, called on road users to exercise extra caution after a series of road accidents left more than 30 people killed in the last five days. "We want to convey condolences to the families of those killed in these road crashes, and wish the injured a speedy recovery," the minister said.

Roads in South Africa are considered to be among the world's most dangerous, with more than 13,000 people killed every year. Many accidents are attributed to reckless driving and the poor maintenance of buses and taxis.

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