Mechanic arrested over bus wheel incident

A prosecution press release said that the mechanic, identified only by the initials IR, was ordered held and could face charges of crimes against traffic safety.

A city bus operated by a private company lost one of its rear wheels on Monday. The wheel injured several people including the woman who died in hospital.

Traffic safety expert Milan Bozovic told N1 that the wheel missed a group of people waiting for the bus at a nearby stop, adding that there would have been many more injuries if the wheel hit that group. He said investigators have to determine the exact reason why the wheel dropped off the bus, adding that it could have been caused by damage to the axle or a mistake made when the wheel was mounted.

This was one of several recent incidents involving city buses. Two buses operated by the city transport company caught fire over the past two weeks.