Pic: Er24

Johannesburg – The death toll following a collision between a train and truck in Mpumalanga on Friday has risen to 24, police said.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Leonard Hlathi said 23 people were killed and 26 injured in the accident.

“The [truck] driver has been detained,” he said.

The man would face murder charges in Tonga Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeffrey Wicks said that the truck had been carrying the farm workers on the N4 when it collided with the train at a level crossing between Malelane and Hectorspruit, at 07:00.

Transnet tweeted that the truck was carrying 44 passengers.

“We would like to extend our sincere sympathies and condolences to the families of those whose lives were lost and a speedy recovery to the injured.”

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