Port Elizabeth police are still searching for the driver of a taxi that ploughed into a group of teenagers in Zwide over the weekend, killing three people.
Police said the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning when a crowd of school-going children were having a so-called “pens down” party in the street outside a popular nightclub.
The minibus collided with six of them, killing the two girls - aged between 14 and 17 - instantly.
Police spokesperson, Captain Andre’ Beetge said the 19-year-old man was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital while three other men were seriously injured.
The minibus did not stop and sped away from the scene.
He said the group of about 1000 children made use of about 50 minibus taxis to block the road and party and consume alcohol in front of the night club.
Beetge said the Public Order Police Unit was called in to assist with crowd management at the scene after the accident.
The three seriously injured children as well as a 19 year old man that was pronounced dead on arrival were taken to Dora Nginza Hospital for medical treatment.
Beetge said the minibus was found abandoned in Missionvale on Sunday.
“The owner of this vehicle was traced and assisted police in an attempt to trace and locate the driver. According to the owner the vehicle was taken by the driver without his knowledge after it was supposed to be parked for the night,” he said.
“Police are still looking for this driver and hoping to make an arrest soon,” said Beetge.
Meanwhile, he said the family of the three deceased persons (two 14 year old girls and one 19 year old male) will be identifying their bodies on Monday at New Brighton mortuary.
“Two of the four injured persons, Anda Sikweyiya 19 and Sinomtha Mlatebe 13, were transferred to Livingstone Hospital. The other two, Likhona Fokazi 14 and Yamkelani Fokazi 13 were discharged this afternoon (Sunday) from Dora Nginza Hospital,” he said.
(Pic:Supplied)
