NINE CHILDREN out of a group of 13 taking a minibus to school near Cape Town yesterday morning were killed when their taxi failed to stop at a level crossing and was hit by a train.
Secretary general of the United Transport and Allied Union, Chris de Vos, told reporters from the scene of the tragedy that their initial investigation into the incident indicated the taxi driver tried to cross over the railway tracks after the safety boom had been lowered.
“Three or four vehicles had already stopped. The booms went down, but the length of the booms does not stop another vehicle from driving around,” he explained, before adding that witnesses said the taxi came from behind the stopped vehicles and ignored the safety boom.
“He thought he was still going to take a chance and make it before the train, and people tend to misjudge the speed of a train,” concluded Mr de Vos.
A preliminary investigation by inspectors with the Railway Safety Regulator also concluded the taxi driver may have caused the crash.
“The flashing lights and booms were found to be in working order. The level crossing is also marked by road signage. This is the maximum level of protection which can be afforded to a level crossing,” the regulator said.
“In light of the above measures, preliminary indications point towards possible negligent vehicle driver behaviour at the crossing point.”
The emergency services said that three girls and six boys were killed in the collision. The driver and two of the four children that survived had to be cut from the wreckage. All the survivors were taken to Tygerberg hospital near Milnerton, where they are said to be in a serious condition.
Yesterday’s incident was the third major crash involving a train in Cape Town in the past three weeks.