South Africa to investigate fatal bus crash

The South African government is setting up a commission to investigate a bus crash that killed 10 tourists, including five British people.

The accident happened on a wet road near the town of Piet Retief, 250 miles south-east of Johannesburg, as the holidaymakers were returning from Kruger game park.

Most of the British casualties are thought to be from Scotland.

Alan Sutherland, of Aberdeen, said the bus was not speeding, but “it was probably going faster than it should have under the conditions”.

Another survivor, 65-year-old Canadian Ron Crawford said the vehicle “fishtailed” as it went down a steep, wet hill before it rolled.

“I watched the driver carefully. He did everything I have been taught to do in such conditions,” he added.

Nine of the 19 tourists on board died at the scene. A 10th passenger – a Scots woman – died later in hospital. The remaining passengers and the driver and tour guide were injured.

Mr Sutherland spoke from hospital of his relief after surviving the smash.

The 46-year-old said: “I can’t believe we are still alive. I thought that we were going to die. The bus swung from side to side as people screamed. It shot off the road and fell to the bottom of a hill.

“The driver lost control of the bus and it swerved two or three times. I still remember the coach running from side to side,” he added.

“We are very lucky. People were in panic and screaming. We couldn’t do anything. The driver was trying to control the bus as best he could. He tried to put it back on the road. I was thinking we were going to control it. It just took another swing to another side.

“We were enjoying ourselves. It’s difficult to take it all in. I can’t believe we survived.”

Mr Sutherland said his girlfriend, Lynn Harper, also survived.

Dr Hermie Britz of Pretoria’s Muelmed Hospital said none of the 11 casualties had life-threatening injuries, although four were still being treated in intensive care.

The Scots woman who died in hospital had serious head and chest injuries and probably internal bleeding, Dr Britz said.

“There was nothing we could do by the time she arrived,” she added.

Police Captain Sibongile Nkosi who visited the accident scene said it was incredible anyone had survived the crash.

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Joyce Mabudafhasi said she and other officials were discussing how best to handle the investigation into the accident.

“What is encouraging to us is that the patients are in a stable condition,” she said as she visited the Pretoria hospital today.

“As government we will do our best to see that they are comfortable and their needs are looked after until they leave the country.”

Relatives of the victims were expected to start arriving in South Africa tomorrow, said tourism official Cheryl Carolus.

“We are talking with the embassies and the airlines to ensure that the people get here as a matter of urgency.”

Carol Scott, chairwoman of the tour company that operated the bus, Springbok Atlas, said: “This is a shocking tragedy. We will ensure that injured passengers are given the best medical care available.”

The accident came three years after 26 British tourists and a South African tour guide were killed when another Springbok Atlas bus crashed in Mpumalanga province.

Their driver, Titus Dube, was jailed for six years but that was reduced to two years suspended sentence on appeal.