3 June 2008: Did bus driver fall asleep?

article from East Coast Radio Newswatch

Did the driver of the SA Roadlink bus fall asleep at the wheel causing it to crash along the N3 early this morning? That’s what the Transport Department is investigating…

It’s believed the driver lost control of the long-distance bus at Paradise Valley, just after the Mariannhill Plaza, at around 3.30am.

49 people were hurt - 13 of them children. John Schnell who’s with the Road Traffic Inspectorate says they’re very concerned.

“The accident scene typically reflects that the driver might have fallen asleep; taken his foot off the accelerator pedal and then crossed over the centre median onto the northbound carriageway. That’s one of the options that we will look at…”

The bus has been sent to Westmead to check its roadworthiness.

There were 70 people on board the bus which had left Johannesburg the night before and was due to arrive at Durban’s main railway station less than 30 minutes after the accident.

SA Roadlink meanwhile says it sincerely regrets this morning’s accident, but adds that it’s still too early to speculate on what caused it.

In response to the allegations by Schnell, SA Roadlink’s Herman Steyn says they believe he swerved to avoid an animal, adding it’s unfair to make damaging allegations until they know for sure.

Steyn says most of those taken to hospital have since been discharged. He says they are liaising with family members of victims to take care of all hospital bills and assist where possible.

On November 26 last year, three people — including a six-year-old child — died when an SA Roadlink bus and a bakkie collided on the N2 near Plettenberg Bay.

In December 2006 another 12 people were killed when an SA Roadlink bus ploughed into a bridge on the N3 motorway in Pietermaritzburg.