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Nine Children Killed In School Run Crash

26 August 2010 04:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Nine children have been killed after a minibus driver taking pupils to school swerved around a closed railway crossing gate into an oncoming train, witnesses say, APA reports quoting â€œSky Newsâ€.
Grieving families cried at the scene as they stood near the completely destroyed van.
It is thought 13 children aged between eight and 11 were on the school run through the Blackheath area of Cape Town.
Police are investigating a case of homicide against the van driver, Cape Town police spokesman Colonel Billy Jones said.
He was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Two of the injured children had to be cut from the wreckage, said emergency ER24 spokesman Andre Visser.
"When (rescue workers) arrived it was chaos," he said.
An investigation showed all precautionary measures were correctly in place at the crossing, railway officials said.
"The crossing is protected by road signs, flashing lights and booms, which were confirmed to be in working order," the officials said in a statement.
"Preliminary indications point towards possible negligent vehicle driver behaviour at the crossing point."
There were no reports of injuries among those on the train.
President Jacob Zuma and Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, who are currently on a state visit to China, conveyed their condolences to the families of the children.
South Africa’s privately owned minibus taxi industry provides the bulk of public transport in the country but is plagued by poor driving and safety standards.