9 children die in South Africa as train hits school bus

Nine children died on Wednesday when a commuter train crashed into a minibus taxi at a crossing in Cape Town, South Africa's rail safety authority said. The collision occurred at 7:10 am (0510 GMT), when a train collided with a minibus taxi at a level crossing, the Railway Safety Regulator said in a statement. Preliminary indications point towards possible negligent vehicle driver behaviour at the crossing point. The taxi was carrying 13 children to school when it was hit by the train travelling out of Cape Town, with witnesses telling local media that the driver drove around a lowered boom at the crossing. Inspectors had found the level crossing protection to be adequate with flashing lights and booms in working order and road signage in place. Police said they had opened a culpable homicide investigation and that charges could be brought against the minibus driver, who was also injured.