Perilous
Times
Van-truck crash kills 30 in central South Africa
JOHANNESBURG — Police say the driver of an overloaded van lost
control, veered into the oncoming lane and collided with a truck
in central South Africa, leaving 30 people dead.
Police spokesman Mmako Mophiring says 29 of those killed early
Saturday were passengers on the van, which was certified to carry
23 but was carrying 35. A truck passenger also died. Both drivers
survived the crash near Harrismith, about 190 miles (300
kilometers) south of Johannesburg.
The van was traveling some 500 miles (850 kilometers) from
Johannesburg to Umtata. Multiple-fatality accidents are common at
year end, when many urban South Africans undertake long road
journeys, sometimes using unsafe but cheap taxi van services, to
spend Christmas and New Year with family in rural areas.