13-year-old learner was killed and 14 other people injured in a head-on collision

A 13-year-old learner was killed and 14 other people injured in a head-on collision involving a scholar transport minibus and a truck on the R597 near Ngoato Tlou High School in Sepanapudi on Friday morning.

According to preliminary reports, the minibus was changing lanes in an attempt to avoid a pedestrian walking on the roadway when it collided with an oncoming truck.

The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety confirmed that one lane of the R597 has since been reopened to traffic while emergency personnel continue with clearance operations at the scene.

A total of 14 people, including both drivers, sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital for medical treatment.

The deceased, a 13-year-old male learner, was declared dead at the scene. His identity has been withheld to allow the family privacy during this difficult time.

Traffic officials, police and emergency services remain on the scene managing traffic flow and investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The crash caused significant traffic disruptions earlier in the day after the road was temporarily closed following the accident.

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