Four killed‚ 20 injured as bakkie overturns in Northern Cape

Four women were killed and five children critically injured when the bakkie they were in overturned in the Northern Cape on Friday night.

Fifteen other adults were found with injuries ranging from moderate to severe. The children who died were aged between a month and 11 years.

ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said paramedics and emergency services arrived shortly before midnight at the accident scene‚ on the N14 about 100km outside Olifantshoek.

“They found several people scattered across the road’s surface. All of them were ejected when the bakkie and trailer overturned‚” he said.

“Paramedics found four women with fatal injuries. Sadly‚ there was nothing that they could do for them and they were declared dead on the scene.

“Five children were found in a critical condition. All of them sustained various injuries‚ including several broken bones and head injuries.”

Survivors were taken to Upington Provincial Hospital. The bakkie’s driver‚ who was seriously injured‚ was taken to Mediclinic Upington.

“The exact cause for this incident is not yet known. Local authorities attended the scene and will investigate‚” said Vermaak.

TMG Digital/Sunday Times