The United National Transport Union (UNTU) is very grateful that train driver Thembela Tsetswa (41), a member of the Union, was not injured yesterday when several coaches of train 3422 exploded after a bakkie collided with the train at a railway crossing between Koelenhof and Muldersvlei near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
It is alleged that the driver of the bakkie ignored the stop signs at the crossing and proceeded to cross the railway line right in front of Tsetswa’s oncoming train.
This is the second similar incident Tsetswa was involved in this year. On 28 January she also collided with a vehicle that crossed a railway line without stopping to see if there were any trains approaching.
Eddie de Klerk, Deputy General Secretary of UNTU, urges motorist to please adhere to road traffic signs when they need to cross a railway line. “Crossing a railway line in front of an oncoming train endangers the lives of the train driver and the motorist. The train driver seldom has enough time to bring the train to a halt,” says De Klerk.
UNTU asks motorist to familiarise themselves with the relevant road traffic signs.
For enquiries phone De Klerk on 082 567 6638.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Communication, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Statements phone Carstens at 082 463 6806 or send an e-mail to sonja@untu.co.za.
