Staff Reporter
Another body has been retrieved to bring to three the number of people who died after their car plunged off a bridge into Vaal Dam in the Free State this week.
The accident happened on Monday at Prinsloo Magrietta Bridge in the small town of Oranjeville in the northern part of the province.
Police divers attending the scene on Tuesday managed to retrieve two lifeless bodies that have since been identified as those of Lucky Hlapo, 20, and Thugela Mnguni, 34.
On Thursday, the body of a third victim, identified as 42-year-old Lefunyana Tsotetsi, was found trapped in the car, Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said in a statement.
The three perished when the car in which they were travelling, a red Kia Sportage, crashed into the steel barriers of the bridge and fell into the water.
The vehicle has now also been retrieved from the dam.
Acting provincial police commissioner for the Free State, Major General Len Singh, commended all role players in the rescue operation.
“We are very thankful and appreciative towards the good relations we have with fellow colleagues from the Gauteng search and rescue team that assisted with the search (and) members of sister departments . . . traffic, fire, Netcare and towing service,” he said.