ALSO READ — Breaking News: 10 die in accident on N1

The girl was admitted along with five other people who suffered various injuries in the fatal accident. According to the Department of Health, only 12 bodies were retrieved from the scene of the accident on that fatal day.

According to the Free State Department of Health's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, four patients admitted to the aforementioned hospital have since been released whilst two continue to receive medical attention. He says all other patients were seen, treated and discharged yesterday. Mvambi says the MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, has since sent her well wishes to those who are still admitted at the hospital, and wishing a speedy recovery to those discharged, as well as heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

Furthermore, the families of the deceased are on Wednesday afternoon set to identify the bodies of their loved ones at the government mortuary.

“A 10-year-old girl remains admitted with a severe traumatic head injury, critically ill and ventilated, in Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A 16-year-old boy, admitted to Post Trauma B Ward at the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital with bilateral Tibula and Fibula fractures, was operated on yesterday and went for X-rays. His vital signs are normal,” Mvambi adds.

A 47-year-old truck driver was arrested by the Free State police and is set to appear at the Winburg Magistrate’s Court. The 47-year-old driver, who survived the accident unharmed, was arrested for culpable homicide. According to police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, the suspect is said to have lost control and collided with the oncoming minibus taxi.

ALSO READ: Police arrest truck driver after N1 collision

On Tuesday 13 December 2022, the EFF and ActionSA in the Free State criticised the department of Police, Roads and Transport following the head-on collision between a truck and a minibus taxi. Both parties raised concerns about the lack of visibility of traffic police on provincial and national roads.

ALSO READ: Collision could have been avoided - opposition criticises department

“The Economic Freedom Fighters have noted with concern the accidents currently occurring within the Free State Province. We have noted that there are about eleven people that have passed on, including three children, and five people that have been injured due to the road accident near the Toll Plaza towards Winburg. We are calling on the department to pay traffic officers their overtime with immediate effect so that they can be visible on the roads again,” EFF provincial Secretary Malefane Msimanga said.

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