S. AFRICA – CHILDREN KILLED

VOA News
August 25, 2010 at 7:25 am

South African police say nine schoolchildren were killed Wednesday when a minibus driver ignored a closed rail crossing gate and collided with an oncoming train.

Five other children and the driver were injured and taken to hospitals near the crash site in Blackheath, east of Cape Town.

Cape Town police spokesman Billy Jones says police are investigating whether the driver can be charged with murder for the deaths of the students.

Railway investigators will be looking into how the deadly crash could have happened. They say the crossing had the maximum level of protection available, and that road signs, flashing lights, and barriers at the site were all in working order.

South African road fatality rates are among the highest in the world.

Some information in this story was provided by AP and Reuters.