Motorists traveling on the M1 north near the St Andrews bridge in Parktown were stunned this evening when a taxi came crashing from the bridge onto the motorway below.
According to bystanders on the scene, drivers had to perform evasive manoeuvres to avoid crashing into the taxi that landed with its nose first onto the two left hand lanes. It is understood that the taxi was traveling on St Andrews road towards Johannesburg CBD when it apparently lost control on the wet road and crashed through the solid barrier of the bridge.
ER24’s advanced life support paramedic that arrived first on the scene expected multiple patients with severe injuries. Fortunately upon assessment of the scene he found that there were no passengers in the taxi. A man believed to be the driver was found lying in the yellow lane of the motorway. He was treated on the scene for possible spinal injuries and moderate injuries to his his extremities. Bystanders explained that he climbed out of the taxi moments after it came to a standstill.
It is a miracle that the taxi did not land on vehicles traveling under the bridge or that any other vehicles crashed into it. Several lanes of the motorway had to be closed while the debris were removed.
Johannesburg Metro Police officials attended the incident.
Photos available on www.flickr.com/er24ems
Werner Vermaak
ER24
