Taxi overturns leaving 19 school children injured in Gauteng

Approximately 19 school children have been injured after a taxi overturned in Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng on Wednesday 29 January 2020. 

An ER24 statement confirmed the following: “Nineteen school children were left injured this morning when the taxi they were travelling in overturned on Faraday Road in Vanderbijlpark.” 

Vanderbijlpark is an industrial city with 95 000 inhabitants on the Vaal River in the south of the Gauteng.  

Taxi found on its side

ER24 paramedics, along with the Provincial EMS, arrived on the scene at 07:22 to find the taxi lying on its side in the centre median. Several children were found seated on the median being attended to by the community.

Medics assessed the children, aged between seven and 12, and found that they had sustained minor to moderate injuries.

The children were treated and thereafter transported to Johan Heyns and Mediclinic Emfuleni Hospital for further care.

The driver of the taxi sustained minor injuries and was also transported to a hospital for further assessment. The details surrounding this incident are not yet known but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations.

Taxi and car collide in separate incident 

In a separate incident on Monday 27 January 2020, at least eleven people were left injured when a taxi crashed into the side of a car on the N11 in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.

ER24 paramedics, along with several other services, arrived on the scene at 12:54 to find the taxi and the car in the middle of the road. Several people were found walking around the scene.

Medics assessed the patients and found that at least eleven people had sustained minor to moderate injuries. Fortunately, no serious injuries or fatalities were found on the scene.

Emergency numbers to be aware of 

Number for the police

• 10111

To report serious crime – ongoing or otherwise – this is the number you need to dial. Stay on the line and give as much detail as you can, and don’t hang up until a unit has been dispatched to your area.

Number for an ambulance or the fire department

• 10177

This is a non-crime related number and best to use if there has been an accident rather than injuries resulting from criminal activity. If you need to report a fire, this is your go-to number as well.

Number for any emergency

• 112

Whether it’s a medical issue, one of fire crime or an accident with a truck or taxi, calling 112 will allow an operator to put you through to the relevant department. This is South Africa’s equivalent to 911 (US) or 999 (UK), and although it’s not as direct as other options, its the three-digit code you must remember in a traumatic situation.