Teacher and 80 pupils injured in nasty accident

SITHOBELWENI – A teacher was seriously injured and about 80 pupils were rushed to hospital after the bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident.

What was meant to be an exciting school trip was aborted when the pupils were rushed to Sithobelweni hospital after the bus landed into a ditch.

The pupils from Elulakeni High School were on their way to Ezulwini.

The horrific acccident happened about a kilometre from the area’s police post as well as the Sithobelweni hospital where the pupils and teachers were treated.

"We are still not clear as to what caused the driver of the bus to lose control and land in this position," said a man who identified himself as Kunene.

The driver, who identified himself as Dlamini, did not comment further apart from agreeing that he was the driver of the bus.

According to one of the teachers who were accompanying the pupils, Swazi Matsebula, there were about 80 pupils who sustained minor injuries.

"We were on our way to Ezulwini and the driver just lost control," said Matsebula who dismissed speed as the cause.

Matsebula blamed the road saying the accident happened just after the bus hit a hump and lost control upon which the driver struggled to keep the vehicle on the road.

"The other children are complaining of pains but they are all being attended to by the doctor.

"The teacher however is seriously injured," said Matsebula.

When reached for comment, the injured teacher, Sibusiso Mahlalela said he had sustained a broken arm, pointing at his left hand.

"The doctor also said a sharp object pierced one of my intestines but has managed to attend to it," he said while complaining of pain.

While speaking, he was unable to turn his head adding that he had developed a stiff neck and kept in a wheel chair as he could not move his legs properly.

When asked what could have caused the accident, Mahlalela said the driver hit a hump.

"After hitting the hump, I heard a continuous metallic sound and noticed that the driver was losing control.

"The driver tried to control it but he then landed into a ditch.

"We were moving at about 80 to 100 km/h," said the teacher, adding that he was sitting in front, next to the driver.

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