11 May 2016

Police in Palapye are investigating an accident in which a train that was coming from Morupule Coal Mine collided with a Nissan bakkie on May 5 at around 4am.

Station traffic officer, Assistant Superintendent Obonetse Tuelo, said in an interview that the accident occurred at the A1 level crossing in Palapye.

He said the bakkie that was coming from the north collided with the train that was coming from Morupule coal mine going to Selebi Phikwe and a total of nine people were travelling in the Nissan bakkie, amongst them a four-year-old child.

He said one passenger lost his life while the driver escaped without any injuries and three others sustained minor injuries.

Even though the investigations were still at a preliminary stage, Superintendent Tuelo said the deceased was a 25-year-old Zimbabwean man.

Superintendent Tuelo raised concern over motorists who lost their lives as a result of accidents involving vehicles and the train, saying that this was the third accident to occur in Palapye since April.

He said the first one occurred near Palapye Vocational College and BIUST level crossings, where two motorists lost their lives in the accidents.

He said motorists should always be observant when crossing at level crossings. ENDS