Bus overturns on N1 near Touws River killing 16

A passenger bus overturned in the early hours of Thursday, July 2, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more on a major highway in South Africa’s Western Cape province. The bus was traveling from Cape Town to Idutywa in the Eastern Cape when the crash occurred on the N1 national road near Touws River shortly after midnight.

Authorities said the bus was carrying between 73 and 78 passengers. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, the driver swerved to avoid a delivery vehicle, lost control, and the vehicle overturned. Most of the victims were declared dead at the scene. Police confirmed the deceased included seven men, five women, and three children.

At least 35 injured passengers were transported to a hospital in Worcester, approximately 120 kilometers from Cape Town. Officials noted that 43 other passengers on the bus refused medical treatment. The driver survived and was among those taken to the hospital.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the RTMC and the South African Police Service. Authorities have warned that winter conditions, including fog, can make roads hazardous and reduce visibility. The crash is the second fatal bus incident in...