Truck transporting 69 farm workers overturned killing three workers and injuring dozens

[News]

A case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

A preliminary investigation indicates that a truck driver yesterday around 07:00 on the
Occultdale Road near Philadelphia in the Western Cape lost control of the vehicle and it
overturned with the farm workers in the back.

Lt. Col. Police spokesman Malcolm Pojie says the truck has seasonal workers from Wellington
transported to Philadelphia when it capsized. Three of the workers died and 58 were injured
taken to different hospitals in the area for medical treatment.

Police says two of the injured were in a serious condition and were taken to hospital by helicopter
taken. The remaining were treated at the scene.
Later in the day, 12 were said to be serious
injured and 55 suffered minor injuries.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Die Burger, the road was strewn with backpacks,
lunch boxes and shoes.

Christene Phyfer, who lives on a nearby farm, was one of the first people on the scene
and said there was blood everywhere and the people were moaning in pain. One of the workers did
said they came from Zimbabwe, lived in Wellington and worked on a wine estate outside
Durbanville.

Questions are asked whether the workers were transported under safe conditions or whether the truck was not overloaded. Police say the investigation into the accident continues