10 children die in railroad crossing
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010The taxi driver of a mini-bus taxi has appeared in a South African court where he faces charges of culpable homocide. The driver a week ago crossed the solid line of a railway crossing, skipping the security booms at a level crossing, before his mini-bus was hit by an oncoming train. Reports said that 10 children (between the age of 7 and 15 died in the accident.
Allegedly it is not the first time that the driver had avoided the booms and illegally crossed the tracks. Parents and teachers have called on the government to enforce more stringent rules and regulations as to who should be allowed to transport school chldren.
Reports said that the driver (an alleged Jacob Humphrey) appeared in court smiling and only minor bruises on his bald head revelaed that he had been in the accident. Police escorted the driver, covering his face with his jacket, to and from the Blue Downs Magistrate Court in the Cape Town region.
