[DURBAN – 18 AUGUST 2011 AT 06H45]
One person is dead, another three have sustained serious injuries and ten others have sustained minor to moderate injuries after the taxi they were travelling in over turned on Nandi Drive just before Newlands East Drive heading towards Durban this morning.
ER24 and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene and found the taxi had over turned and was lying on its side in the middle of the road blocking it off to traffic. The Armco barrier had been sheared off the concrete pillars that run along the pavement and had intertwined with the back wheel arch of the taxi.
Some commuters were found strewed across the road while some commuters were found climbing out of the taxi. A female commuter was found a few meters away from the taxi but unfortunately had already succumbed to her injuries by the time paramedics arrived on the scene. Three other patients had suffered multiple broken bones and possible neck and back injuries. They needed Advanced Life Support Intervention before they could be stabilised further. The remaining ten patients were all treated for abrasions and cuts. All patients were transported to various hospitals in the greater Durban area for further medical care.
It is unclear how the driver lost control but all necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the accident further.
Derrick Banks, ER24
