Driver jumps off bus after radiator bursts

13 years, 7 months ago - 17 April 2011
Driver jumps off bus after radiator bursts
Friday, a United Bus Service (UBS) driver Salim Meeajan, a 43-year-old resident of St Croix, fractured his right leg and suffered severe burns on his arm following a mechanical problem in the bus.

Shortly after 2 pm at Volcy Pougnet Street, Port Louis, the radiator of the bus exploded causing a jet of hot water to spill on the driver. He stopped the bus, jumped out and fractured his leg.

The driver was rushed to Dr AG Jeetoo Hospital for treatment. After undergoing a mini-surgical intervention, he was admitted in the hospital. According to doctors, his condition is stable.

A statement was registered at the police post in the hospital.

Meeajan said that he was heading towards Cité Vallijee and after a while the radiator exploded.

“The radiator cap came out and boiling water spilled on my hand,” he said.

In order to protect himself from the boiling water, which was coming out of the radiator, he stopped the vehicle and jumped out of the bus.

Two days earlier, on April 13, a National Transport Company (NTC) bus with 51 people onboard that was on its way to Chamarel, left 47 people injured. The bus driver said he experienced problems with the brakes. The bus had hit a tree and fell into a ravine.

The injured persons have been admitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Yves Cantin hospital and the Queen Victoria hospital.