A TRUCK driver who allegedly tried to escape an N3 accident scene this morning was arrested by members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team.

The accident  on the N3 Pietermaritzburg and Durban bound near the Cliffdale/Peacevale offramp left more than 20 people injured, with one patient airlifted to hospital after sustaining critical injuries.

MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said this accident caused by a truck driver from Zambia adds to increasing road accidents in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of June.

Also read: Truck ploughs through multiple vehicles on the N3 PMB bound

“We are relieved that no one died from this major accident that disrupted traffic flow and inconvenienced hundreds of motorists. We wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said Duma.

He commended the RTI team for arresting the driver who was trying to run away from the accident scene.

“I have mandated the RTI team to work with the South African Police Service to ensure that there is a successful conviction of this truck driver. Importantly, we want to establish whether he had the relevant documents authorising him to drive.”

In addition, Duma welcomed the Minister of Transport Barbra Creecy’s announcement of the completion of the adjudication process to select new Train Operating Companies (TOCs) by Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM).

“For us as KwaZulu-Natal, we are looking forward to the movement of cargo from road to rail. The six new entrants in the North Corridor will be responsible for 15 routes for the transportation of coal and chrome.

“We were informed by the minister that the Train Operating Companies will carry an additional 20 million tonnes of freight per annum from the 2026/27 financial year. This means fewer trucks and fewer accidents on our major routes.”

Over the past few months, Duma highlighted that many people have lost their lives in horrific accidents involving trucks.