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Teen remains in hospital following horror train crash

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A 14-year-old boy is the only victim of the 183 injured, when a train collided with a truck at a level crossing between Hennenman and Kroonstad in the northern Free State on Thursday, who is still in hospital.

The Shosholoza Meyl train was en route from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.

Free State Health Department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi says forensic pathologists in Kroonstad have confirmed that 19 charred bodies were found at the scene.

“All patients were discharged safely and were given transport by PRASA to the end of their destination. There is only one boy who is still remaining at Boitumelo hospital because he suffered multiple fractures. So the boy is going to be getting an operation at Boitumelo hospital,” he said.

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“The multi-disciplinary team will be working to determine the DNA and the actual identities of these people so that names could be assigned to them and the next of kin can claim the rightful bodies,” said Mvambi.

Police on Friday launched a manslaughter investigation, with the truck driver central to the probe.

“The truck driver was taking chances… that cost lots of lives,” Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi said at the scene on Thursday.

However, no one is in police custody or has been charged in connection with the crash.

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