CrimeNews

N12 multiple vehicle crash leaves motorists seriously injured

Calls to the City’s emergency services call centre went unanswered while the trapped victim was languishing in the wreckage.

The morning rush hour traffic on the N12, between Boksburg and Benoni, came to a standstill after the horrific crash that left one motorist trapped inside the car, forcing authorities to close part of the freeway.

It is believed the collision occurred just after 07:00 on October 7 on the westbound carriageway of the freeway, near Rondebult off-ramp and Wild Waters.

Metro police spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa confirmed the incident.

“We received a report about the collision, involving four vehicles (a truck and three light motor vehicles) at about 07:30. One of the motorists was found trapped inside the crashed and destroyed light motor vehicle,” said Thepa.

Thepa added that the road had to be closed while emergency personnel, including paramedics and police, were busy carrying out their duties and clearing the scene.

DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said the rescue team from the Leon Ferreira Fire Station promptly responded to the complaint with one rescue tender fire engine after receiving a call at about 07:35 and they arrived at the scene at about 07:55.

“Upon assessment, they found that one critically injured motorist was still trapped inside one of the light motor vehicles that was involved in a high impact with the truck.

“The team had to use the Jaws of Life to free the person who was trapped in the wreckage, before handing her over to the medical team. “The other patients had already been given prehospital medical treatment by paramedics before they were also rushed to hospital for further treatment,” explained Ntladi.

Netcare 911 told the Advertiser that their medics also responded to the accident. The patient who was trapped in the light motor vehicle was treated on scene before being flown by Netcare 911 helicopter to the hospital for further care.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by the police.

Calls go unanswered

A resident, who was near the scene of the accident complained that the victim who got trapped inside a car was forced to languish in the wreckage for about 40 minutes while waiting for fire and rescue services personnel to arrive.

Paramedics and authorities arrived at the scene to find that three light motor vehicles and a truck had collided. People involved in the accident reportedly sustained serious injuries and were stabilised on the scene before being rushed to hospital for further medical attention.

“Just after the accident happened, along with many others, we tried to get hold of the Ekurhuleni Emergency Call Centre at 011 458 0911, but the phones repeatedly rang unanswered.

“The fire engines only arrive about 08:10, after apparently someone eventually managed to get hold of the Leon Ferreira Fire Station. It’s shocking because they are located about three kilometres from the scene.

“If this is the call centre that services the whole of Ekurhuleni when it comes to emergency services, we are in terrible trouble. Their incoming calls are not even rerouting to another answering point; instead, they ring and ring before dying,” said the resident.

He also pointed out that this was not the only instance where they (residents) struggled to get hold of the emergency services through the City’s emergency services call centre.

“On August 16, we witness another accident on the N12 where a car rolled, and we tried to call this number, but it also rang unanswered. People who were on the scene made means to remove the trapped victims and the scene was even cleared before the Ekurhuleni emergency services arrived.”

The resident added they are all worried as to what would happen should one of the houses in the neighbourhood catches fire.

DEMS spokesperson, William Ntladi, was approached for comment on the ‘delayed’ emergency services’ response, but he had not yet responded at the time of going to press.

Also Read: Helicopter to airlift injured from N12 Rondebult Road accident

   

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