Conclusive evidence gathered during an investigation into the death of a Thaba Nchu-based woman has revealed that she died due to injuries sustained in the horrific road accident on the N8 outside Botshabelo on 10 November.
The number of deaths confirmed by the Free State Department of Health after the crash between a truck and an Interstate Bus Lines bus is nine.
The department has stated that the results of a postmortem revealed the true cause of the woman’s death. She died at the Moroka Hospital in Thaba Nchu on 14 November after being among the 58 survivors of the accident.
According to the department, 14 people were discharged from Moroka, and 44 from the Botshabelo Hospital after having been admitted after the accident.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the deceased woman was initially admitted to the Botshabelo Hospital after the accident. She was discharged to go back home in Thaba Nchu, whereafter she was later admitted to Moroka.
Mvambi said the postmortem was conducted because the woman had comorbidities that were known both to herself and the health professionals that treated her.
Among the victims of the crash are the drivers of the bus and the truck. The truck driver was identified as an employee of Sedaka Logistics.
Five people are still in the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital after sustaining serious injuries.
They are a 48-year-old man who suffered a dislocated clavicle, a 20-year-old woman with head injuries, a 23-year-old woman with wrist fractures, a 38-year-old woman with an ankle fracture, and a 58-year-old woman with an open ankle fracture. Some underwent surgeries.
Mvambi said four people were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), while three underwent surgeries at Pelonomi. One of the three who were admitted in critical condition succumbed to her injuries.
According to the bus company, at the time of the accident, there were 71 passengers on board the 80-seater bus travelling from Zone 5 in Thaba Nchu to Bloemfontein.
“The Free State government again extends its condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishes a speedy recovery to all the injured,” said Mvambi.
