Inquiry set up to investigate Denver crash

By Ben Crouch (Kalk Bay), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Preliminary investigations show that the Tshwane Business Express (TBE) 1602 collided into the rear of the stationery Metroplus 0600 at the Denver Station.

At the time of the accident, both trains were en-route to Johannesburg from the Pretoria Station.

Train 0600 departed from the Pretoria Station at 6am and TBE 1602 departed from the Pretoria Station at 6:15am.

Approximately 240 passengers were injured and were treated at Milpark, Charlotte Maxeke and Hillbrow hospitals, respectively.

More than 120 commuters with minor injuries were attended to and discharged from Charlotte Maxeke, Milpark and Hillbrow hospitals.

Of the injured, two commuters are reported to be critical, 25 suffered serious injuries, and 213 commuters suffered minor injuries, with 80 of them having being released from hospital.

Metrorail has set up two offices at the Pretoria station and at the Pippet building just outside Park Station.

Metrorail officers will provide assistance to settle claims received directly from the affected commuters.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has expressed her heartfelt condolences to the family of the Metro rail security guard Tiisetso Napo, who untimely passed on as a result of the train accident.

The minister has also wished Marcia Sambo who was driving the TBE, a speedy recovery. Sambo is receiving treatment at the Milpark hospital.

The Gauteng Provincial Government also extended its condolences to the Napo family.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Premier Makhura said the safety of commuters in our public transport infrastructure remains government's top priority.

The premier promised that the provincial government will work with all the parties involved to ensure that the cause of the accident is investigated and concluded speedily to prevent such accidents.