Staff Reporter
Two people were confirmed dead after their car plunged off a bridge into Vaal Dam in the Free State this week.
The accident occurred at Prinsloo Magrietta Bridge in the small town of Oranjeville in the northern part of the province.
According to the police, a motor vehicle reportedly crashed into the steel barriers of the bridge and fell into the water.
Police divers who attended the scene managed to retrieve two lifeless bodies that have since been identified as those of Lucky Hlapo, 20, and Thugela Mnguni, 34.
The divers were on Wednesday still searching for a third victim also believed to have drowned in the accident.
“Two bodies of men were retrieved out of Vaal Dam in Oranjeville on Tuesday 10 August 2021,” Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said in a statement.
“The police divers searched for the bodies after attending to a complaint that there was a motor vehicle that was involved in an accident at Prinsloo Magrietta Bridge, Oranjeville on Monday . . .
“Police divers searched for the bodies and a motor vehicle until the first lifeless body was retrieved in the afternoon.
“A few hours later, the second body was also retrieved.”
Makhele said the location of the submerged motor vehicle had been spotted.
A case of culpable homicide will be opened for further investigation.