Three people were killed on Monday morning in a taxi-smash on the R61 between Cradock and Tarkastad.
Provincial Traffic deputy director Charles Bramwell says the accident happened shortly after 6am.
He says a Toyota minibus was travelling from Cape town to Mthatha when the driver lost control on a bend. Its suspected that a tyre burst, causing the vehicle to leave the road.
The taxi went through a steel barrier and plunged down a small cliff.
Bramwell says two women and a man were killed instantly.
Three passengers, of whom two are children, were critically injured and were air lifted to hospital in Cradock. One of the children has since been flown to hospital in Port Elizabeth for further emergency treatment.
Bramwell says eight other passengers were seriously injured and seven sustained slight injuries.
There were 21 people, including the driver and five children, crammed into the taxi.
Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
