Passenger grabbed bus steering wheel: M1 highway in Joburg closed after multiple vehicle crash
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) on Monday said a serious accident occurred on the M1 highway in Booysens, involving a bus and six other vehicles near Booysens Road.
“Multiple injuries have been reported. However, there are no confirmed fatalities at this time,” said JMPD spokesperson, Superintendent Xolani Fihla.
“Preliminary information suggests the bus was travelling south on the M1 towards the Booysens Road off-ramp when a passenger reportedly had an altercation with the driver, and (the passenger) grabbed the steering wheel.”
The bus subsequently lost control, veered off the M1 South, crossed the barricades and median, and collided with vehicles on the M1 North.
“Law enforcement officials are on the scene. The M1 North is currently closed to traffic at Booysens Road, causing significant disruptions,” said Fihla.
“Motorists are advised to use Crownwood Road or Xavier Street as alternative routes from the M1 North.”
In June last year, IOL reported that a Joburg woman who works for Nedbank was executed while boarding a bus to work. She died at the scene.
Several media crews, police, and community members were gathered at the scene in Fleurhof, where the City of Joburg’s Metro bus was parked.
The incident happened at around 6 am when the woman and other passengers boarded the Metro bus. She was apparently heading to Sunninghill where she reportedly worked for Nedbank.
The gunman had boarded the bus at an earlier bus stop, and he apparently cocked his handgun as the bus was approaching the station where the woman boarded.
After initially firing shots at her as she was boarding the bus, the gunman also chased after the fleeing woman and fatally shot her when she had fallen to the ground.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News