SIX PEOPLE KILLED IN ROAD CRASHES 

The N3 at Van Reenens Pass is now open following a horrific crash this morning involving a truck and a bakkie. Motorists travelling on this stretch of road are urged to exercise extreme caution as mopping up operations are still underway. 

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S’bu Ndebele has ordered a full investigation into this and another road crash, which occurred in the province in the early hours of this morning, leaving six people dead and scores of others injured.  

In the first crash which occurred at approximately 05h30 this morning, five people were killed instantly when a truck carrying galvanised metal sheets hit into the rear of a bakkie on the N3 near Van Reenens Pass, just outside Ladysmith. 

The driver of the truck alleges that the brakes of his vehicle failed whilst travelling down Van Reenens Pass on his way to Durban. He then lost control of the truck and upon impact the bakkie ended up under the truck and was thrown out from under the truck instantly. The truck then overturned and came to a rest on its side across the N3. The metal sheets that were being transported by the truck were dislodged onto the road. 

Four passengers from the bakkie (two adult males and two females – one adult and one child) and one passenger from the truck were killed instantly. Eight other people, including the driver of the bakkie and the truck, who sustained serious to moderate injuries were taken to the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital for treatment.  

The SAPS together with members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate have impounded the truck in order to conduct a full roadworthy test and further investigation. The driver of the truck has been charged with five counts of culpable homicide.

In the second crash which occurred shortly before 06h30 this morning on the Shongweni / Summerveld Road (P454), a KZT passenger bus travelling towards the Shongweni Dam veered out of control and fell on its side after the driver lost control on a sharp bend. The bus was travelling from Mpumalanga to Shongweni at the time of the crash. 

One woman from the bus died at the scene and at least 55 others including an unknown number of school children suffered slight to moderate injuries and were rushed to the Crompton, R.K. Khan, Westville and St. Augustine’s hospitals. The bus driver escaped with minor injuries.  

Whilst emergency teams were busy attending to the injured, a fire engine responding to the crash ploughed into two ambulances and a Durban Metro police car injuring several emergency workers. The driver of the fire engine and a paramedic sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to a hospital in Durban. Police say brake failure may have resulted in this secondary crash.  

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. Both the bus and fire engine will be examined to determine their roadworthiness. 

Minister Ndebele expresses his condolences to the families of those who were killed in these crashes and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

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