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Sol Plaatje Dam Bus Crash
On 1 May 2003, a coach bus drove into the Sol Plaatje Dam, Saulspoort Dam near the town of Bethlehem, Free State, Bethlehem, South Africa, killing 51 people. Overview The bus was transporting trade union delegates to May Day celebrations in the town of QwaQwa in the Free State (South African province), Free State. The bus driver became disoriented when they passed through Bethlehem in the dark en route to the celebrations. Hopelessly lost, he appears to have turned accidentally onto an unlit gravel path, which led straight onto a jetty into the Sol Plaatje Dam, Saulspoort Dam. The driver was traveling much too fast to stop when the bus drove straight into the water. Because of the remote location of the accident and the old bus's inadequate safety provisions, just ten people escaped the vehicle alive, all of them injured in the crash. The bus sank rapidly following impact with the water, trapping the passengers underwater inside the vehicle. Police did not arrive until the foll ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sol Plaatje Dam
Sol Plaatje Dam (or Saulspoort Dam) is an earth-fill type dam located at the confluence of the As River, As and Liebenbergsvlei Rivers near Bethlehem, Free State (South African province), Free State, South Africa. It was established in 1968 and serves mainly for municipal and domestic water supply. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high. The reservoir receives water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project via the As River. Originally known as Saulspoort Dam, it was officially renamed on 1 April 2005, recalling the Sol Plaatje Dam bus crash, bus disaster which took place there in the early hours of 1 May 2003, when 51 passengers, en route to a Workers Day rally, were drowned. 41 of the workers were employees of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, Sol Plaatje Municipality (Kimberley, Northern Cape, Kimberley). [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |