The death toll from the tragic N8 accident involving a bus and a truck between Botshabelo and Bloemfontein has risen to eleven. The patient died in the ICU at Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein on Monday.
MEC for Health in the Free State, Monyatso Mahlatsi, visited survivors at Pelonomi Hospital.
The families of the ten people who died on the spot have identified their loved ones at the government mortuary.
Overwhelmed by intense emotions, survivors of the crash on the infamous N8 section speak about the horrific incident.
The moment they may never forget, as two of them lost their legs.
Many were on their way to work and are lucky to be alive.
Survivor Nozipho Dlati says: “I feel like God has protected me and I am blessed even though I am in pain… This crash is always in my mind; I can’t sleep at night. I have flashbacks of people who have lost their lives. It’s bad, I feel like I am being given sleeping pills so I can sleep.”
Although the case is still under investigation, what the survivors reveal is shocking.
Authorities indicated the two vehicles were traveling in the same direction.
Polelo Mahloane was in the front seat when the crash was about to happen. He tried to warn the driver and tried to run to the back.
Survivor Polelo Mahloane says: “I was sitting in the front and when I realized the bus was going to hit the truck, I ran back. Emotionally I’m fine. It’s just the pain. I’ve accepted what happened, that’s it. So I’ll deal with this life without my leg. The most important thing is that I’m alive, that’s the most important thing.”
The health department has expressed relief over the turnaround time for conducting post-mortems and attending to survivors.
However, the department is saddened by the increase in the death toll.
Free State Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi says: “I am truly shocked by the number and state of accidents that occurred over the past weekend. First and foremost, the lives lost in the accident on the N8, and may I also take this opportunity to wish the soul of the latter, or those who were injured, who were still here in our intensive care unit and who lost a life a few minutes ago. May the soul of that deceased rest in peace. But at the same time, I am relieved. time that we were able to provide all the clients who came here with the required assistance on demand. All the clients were required, a theater time, they were all given theater time and all the necessary medical interventions were carried out.
Emotions were tense at the government mortuary as families came to identify the bodies of their loved ones.
Meanwhile, another accident on the N8 claimed three lives on Monday morning.
Makgala Masiteng
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