The driver of a truck involved in a horrific collision with a train on Friday, which left at least 25 farm workers dead, is facing murder charges. The driver will appear in court today, facing 25 charges of murder.

The farm workers were travelling in a shipping container on the back of the truck. The truck collided with a four tonne train carrying coal to Mozambique, and was dragged quite a distance down the tracks leaving little hope of survivors.

President Jacob Zuma has given the reason for the crash as being driver’s negligence.
“It is shocking that in this day and age people are transported in containers,” he said on state television.

Transnet has said in a statement that the driver had failed to stop at the level crossing. This is a continuing concern that Transport World Africa has touched on in the past. It presents such a huge danger to passengers of trucks and trains. Level crossing safety needs to improve so that tragedies like this can be avoided, and they definitely can with a little more care and patience taken while travelling.