Cape Town - A Grade 5 learner from Rocklands Primary School in Mitchells Plain died, and several of his schoolmates were injured after a taxi driver allegedly jumped a red robot.
The Toyota Quantum and a white BMW collided on the corner of Marguerite Street and AZ Berman Drive just after 8am on Monday, causing the taxi to flip on its side.
“The taxi came from the direction of Town Centre, and the driver jumped the robot. He didn’t see the BMW coming from Marguerite Street; that is when he knocked into the car,” Dean Timotheus from the Lentegeur Neighbourhood Watch explained.
When the Daily Voice arrived on the scene, the taxi, which was carrying 24 schoolchildren, was lying on its side, with emergency services attending to the injured children.
A young girl was flung through the windscreen while the Grade 5 boy, who was also found outside the taxi, later died.
The owner of the white BMW declined to comment.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of culpable homicide was being investigated, and said that no arrests were made.
“A case of culpable homicide is under investigation at Lentegeur [SA Police Service] SAPS after two vehicles, a Toyota Quantum and a BMW, collided at the corner of Marguerite Street and AZ Berman Drive at 8.10am,” Van Wyk.
“The Toyota Quantum, at the time of the incident, was transporting 24 passengers, all of which are scholars from various schools across Mitchells Plain,” he said.
“One of the children, a boy aged between eight and 10, was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and later succumbed due to injuries sustained.
“The other children were treated on the scene or taken to nearby hospitals with minor injuries. No arrest as yet, and the cause of the accident is currently under investigation.”
The boy’s death was confirmed by Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED.
“The WCED can sadly confirm that a Grade 5 learner from Rocklands Primary School tragically passed away as a result of a traffic accident earlier this morning.
“While the traffic authorities and/or SAPS would need to confirm the cause of the accident, we are aware that learners from Rocklands, Meadowridge and Hillside primary schools were in the mini-bus when it collided with another vehicle, causing one death and other injuries.