Two die in a taxi accident

A woman and a child died when a taxi they were travelling in overturned on the N7 in Cape Town, paramedics said on Sunday.

ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said paramedics were called to the scene at 3pm near the Melkbosstrand turn-off.

"It is understood that a taxi, possibly travelling south on the N7 lost control and overturned several times, ejecting all of its occupants," he said.

A total of 19 people were involved in the accident --nine adults and nine children, including a three-month old baby.

At least 17 of them were injured.

Paramedics found that a woman suffered serious injuries. She was declared dead on the scene.

One of the children was in a critical condition and sustained serious head injuries and a partial amputation of his leg, he said. The child was airlifted to the Red Cross Children's Hospital but he died on arrival. Other occupants of the taxi were stabilised on the scene and rushed to nearby hospitals. Vermaak said it was not clear what actually happened to the taxi but there was no other vehicle involved in the accident.