SHARPVILLE 4 May 2012, 15:00
14 children sustained various a injuries after a minibus taxi overturned on Mareka road in Sharpville this afternoon.
The cause of the incident is unclear at this stage, but it seems as if the minibus taxi had attempted to swerve to avoid a collision with another vehicle. The taxi then overturned onto its right hand side.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they identified a total of 14 children all between the ages of five and fourteen, in need of medical attention. One of the children, a boy aged five, was ejected from the vehicle as it overturned. Paramedics treated the child at the scene for a broken leg as well as suspected back and neck injuries. The boy was later airlifted to Union hospital for further medical attention.
Another occupant, a girl aged in her early teens, also sustained suspected back and neck injuries as well as a broken leg. The remaining 12 children received treatment at the scene for injuries ranging from suspected back and neck injuries to various scrapes and bruises.
All of the patients received treatment at the scene before being transported to nearby medical facilities for further care. The appropriate authority will investigate the incident further.
Andre Visser, ER24