Four family members die in crash

THE FOUR people who were killed in an accident over the weekend were all family members who were on their way from a visit in Groenwater near Postmasburg.

The deceased were identified as Maureen Willemse, Pamela Kaarse, Maurice Maasdorp and six-year-old Liaan Baucher, all from the village of Jennhaven.

Five other people were rushed to hospital.

The accident happened when the Nissan single-cab bakkie they were travelling in was hit by a train after the driver attempted to take a shortcut across the railway line at a prohibited crossover between Groenwater and Jennhaven.

The vehicle became stuck on the railway line and was hit by a goods train.

Six passengers survived after jumping off the bakkie as the train’s sirens went off.

Distraught family members who were called to the scene said the entire village has suffered a huge blow.

Two of the victims remain in critical condition in the Postmasburg Hospital and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley.

According to family members, one of the injured, a six-year-old patient in Kimberley, had to undergo emergency brain surgery on Sunday.

The mother of the deceased child is also in hospital.

Other passengers, who witnessed the whole ordeal after cheating death, were left extremely traumatised.

According to family members, the shortcut where the accident happened is used on a regular basis by pedestrians and vehicles because the authorised crossing is too far away.

Dennis Kaarse said it is unfortunate that the train came on the day when the bakkie suddenly stalled.

“There has never been any accident on that crossing,” said Kaarse.

The family is looking at the possibility of a mass funeral service at the Jennhaven community hall on August 17.

“We still need to have a family meeting because the child’s mother is not originally from here. We will also need financial assistance and have engaged with Transnet and the Tsantsabane Local Municipality for assistance because all the deceased were unemployed.”