[PRETORIA, GP – 30 JUNE 2012 AT 08H00]
Twenty two people were injured after two taxis collided on Hans Strijdom Drive in Faerie Glen, Pretoria this morning.
Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and found the two taxis still on the road with extensive damage to both vehicles. The driver of the one taxi was still entrapped and was in a critical condition. The Jaws of Life and other rescue equipment were used to extricate the man from the vehicle while Advanced Life Support intervention was being performed on him. The ER24 Discovery Medicopter was called to the scene to airlift the patient to Baragwaneth Hospital for rapid medical care. Another patient was also airlifted by a medicopter to a nearby hospital because of the critical injuries the patient had sustained in the accident.
Of the twenty two people injured, four patients were in a critical condition of which two were airlifted to hospital. The remaining eighteen patients had sustained various injuries. Amongst the injured were three nurses from a nearby hospital who were on their way home from work. All patients were stabilised on scene and transported to various hospitals in the area for further medical care.
The necessary authorities were on the scene and would investigate the accident further.
Derrick Banks, ER24