A morning school run turned into a terrifying ordeal when a taxi carrying 21 children fell five meters off the Stoffelton Road bridge into a riverbed near Pietermaritzburg at around 08:00 SAST.
Stoffelton Road school bus accident shocks Pietermaritzburg community
The accident happened in the Impendle area while the children were on their way to school.
The young passengers, aged between eight and 15 years old, suffered injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to more serious trauma, but miraculously, no lives were lost.
Community members rushed to help
Before emergency vehicles arrived, local residents in the area became the first responders. Eyewitnesses say people living nearby dropped everything and ran to the scene when they heard the crash.
“They were lifting children out of the damaged taxi, carrying them to safety, and comforting them,” one emergency worker said.
These community heroes then worked hand in hand with paramedics and clinic staff to stabilise the injured children. Those needing further care were later transported to hospitals for comprehensive medical evaluation.
Paramedics described the incident as a “multi-casualty event” because so many people were hurt at the same time. They praised how quickly the community and health workers pulled together.
“The coordinated response ensured every child received immediate attention,” an emergency services spokesperson said.
“Without the community’s bravery and quick action, the outcome could have been far worse.”
Traffic investigators have started a full investigation into how the taxi lost control and plunged off the bridge. They will look at factors such as the driver’s condition, the state of the vehicle, and road safety issues on Stoffelton Road.
The bridge has not been closed, but motorists have been advised to expect delays as officials continue their work at the scene.
