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KING WILLIAM'S TOWN, Eastern Cape - Four children and their negligent driver were rescued from an overflowing river near King Wiliams Town in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, health department spokesman, Sizwe Kupelo said, said.
Kupelo said: "The children were going to school when their driver attempted to cross an overflowing bridge between King William's Town and West Drive suburb.
"He could not cross over and the vehicle was almost swept away but fortunately, paramedics from the health department responded promptly and all of them were rescued."
'TOTAL NEGLIGENCE'
The children were treated for shock at Grey Hospital in King William's Town and Kupelo blamed the driver for the incident, telling driver to be cautious: "It was total negligence on the part of the driver to attempt to cross the bridge.
"It is clearly visible that he was attempting 'mission impossible' by trying to cross that bridge. He put the lives of those children at risk."
CHILD SLAUGHTER ON SA'S ROADS
The incident was one of several involving children since schools re-opened in January 2015. Wheels24 wonders if Jacob Zuma might address the matter at the end of his long red-carpet walk to his 'State of the Nation' address? Nah!
On Tuesday (Feb 3), a child and a taxi driver were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in hit a bridge and overturned near Pretoria. Thirteen children sustained critical injuries while five others were in a serious condition.
On Monday (Feb 2), 13 children were injured when a truck and car collided on the N3 in Alberton, on the East Rand. One of the children was critically injured.
On Jan 30, seven children died in Pietermaritzburg when a bakkie overturned and crashed into a house. Earlier in January, 22 children were injured in a bus accident in Umlazi, south of Durban.
On Jan 30, eight children were injured when a car hit them outside their school in Reservoir Hills, Durban.
Read our guides on river crossings and escaping a submerged vehicle below:
River crossings - depth is knowledge
Sinking feeling: Escape from a submerged car
What do you think should be done to curb children dying and being seriously injured on our roads? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24.
