Three Chinese tourists killed after 'drunk' van driver hits tour bus in head on collision
Tourists were heading back to Johannesburg when their bus was hit by the van. Witnesses said the driver, who was thought to be drunk, was trying to overtake another vehicle
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 02 October, 2014, 11:01am
UPDATED : Thursday, 02 October, 2014, 11:01am
Xinhua
At least three Chinese tourists were killed and several others badly injured when their bus collided with a van near Johannesburg on Wednesday afternoon, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa said. The bus, which was carrying a group of 20 Chinese tourists and a Chinese tour guide, was on its way back to Johannesburg from the Sun City tourist attraction when the van ran head on into it, according to the Walk Through Africa Tours (WTAT), a travel agency which arranged the tour.
The WTAT manager said the tour group, which had departed from Beijing, landed in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning and had been scheduled to stay for six days. At least three tourists were killed in the accident, two on the spot and one when transferred to Johannesburg by a rescue helicopter, said a Chinese official who helped the rescue.
At least three other passengers were severely injured and were airlifted to Johannesburg. Other victims were treated at local hospitals, said Pan Peng from the Chinese Embassy. Two witnesses at the scene said the van collided with the bus when trying to overtake another vehicle. It was thought the driver was drunk. It is unclear whether the driver was killed or injured and police are investigating the accident.
