Staff Reporter
Free State police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following an accident that claimed the life of a bus driver on the N3 in Harrismith.
Police say they received information about the accident in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a truck collided with a Greyhound bus.
“It is alleged that the bus was travelling towards Harrismith when it collided with the trailer of the truck,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele in a statement.
The impact is said to have forced the bus to turn back and face the direction from which it was coming.
It is believed the accident occurred at about 3am.
“The 54-year-old bus driver was killed on impact and seven of the 49 passengers were slightly injured and treated at the scene,” he said.
The 30-year-old truck driver was arrested and will appear in the Harrismith Magistrates Court soon on a charge of culpable homicide.
Meanwhile, Edenville and Bothaville police stations have been temporarily closed due to COVID-19-related cases.
Edenville residents will be served from the detective offices at the corner of Du-Plooy and Haefele streets while in Bothaville police will operate from the station’s conference hall on the same premises.
The two stations will undergo decontamination and affected officials will be subjected to the necessary COVID-19 protocols.