Sandton accident claims a life, 12 injured
A reckless Johannesburg motorist’s decision to make a U-turn into oncoming morning traffic in Sandton today cost a taxi passenger her life and left 12 others injured. 
At about 09:00 the driver of a Volvo S40 was driving south down Sandton Drive when he made an about turn at the intersection with William Nicol Drive, to get into the opposite lane. A northbound taxi in Sandton Drive, with 13 occupants, hit the right-hand side of the Volvo and overturned.
At about 09:00 the driver of a Volvo S40 was driving south down Sandton Drive when he made an about turn at the intersection with William Nicol Drive, to get into the opposite lane. A northbound taxi in Sandton Drive, with 13 occupants, hit the right-hand side of the Volvo and overturned.
Eyewitness Ronald Munyai was sitting on a barrier next to the road near the intersection when the accident happened. He jumped out of the way as the swerving taxi came past him.
"As the taxi was rolling, passengers were flung out of the windows. I also saw three passengers flying out of one window," Munyai said.
One woman, who was flung from the taxi, was crushed when the wreck landed on top of her.
Munyai and other passers-by rushed to the taxi to help her.
"As the taxi was rolling, passengers were flung out of the windows. I also saw three passengers flying out of one window," Munyai said.
One woman, who was flung from the taxi, was crushed when the wreck landed on top of her.
Munyai and other passers-by rushed to the taxi to help her.
Natalie Anderson was two car lengths behind the taxi at the intersection when the collision occurred:
"I saw the taxi swerving out of the way of the Volvo. But it connected the front end. The taxi went swerving across the road, it wobbled and flipped over. The taxi rolled four or five times. I
just wanted it to stop. It was terrible.
"I immediately pulled over and ran to the taxi. There were a group of men trying to lift the taxi off of her and I helped them pull the woman out. She was lying flat down on her face. As I knelt down next to her she was moving slightly," Anderson said.
An off duty paramedic arrived on the scene and tried to save the woman’s life, but minutes later she was dead.
"I saw the taxi swerving out of the way of the Volvo. But it connected the front end. The taxi went swerving across the road, it wobbled and flipped over. The taxi rolled four or five times. I
just wanted it to stop. It was terrible."I immediately pulled over and ran to the taxi. There were a group of men trying to lift the taxi off of her and I helped them pull the woman out. She was lying flat down on her face. As I knelt down next to her she was moving slightly," Anderson said.
An off duty paramedic arrived on the scene and tried to save the woman’s life, but minutes later she was dead.
According to Riana Beech, ER24 spokesperson, the other 12 passengers suffered head, neck and back injuries. Several had fractured bones.
While the injured, including the taxi driver Mamdleni Madondo, were taken to hospital, Johannesburg Metro Police started their accident investigation on the scene.
They are investigating a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving against the Volvo driver.
While the injured, including the taxi driver Mamdleni Madondo, were taken to hospital, Johannesburg Metro Police started their accident investigation on the scene.
They are investigating a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving against the Volvo driver.
Photos: Halden Krog
Sunday Times Online
Sunday Times Online
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