THE emergency lane has been reopened on the N3 Durban-bound before Mariannhill Toll Plaza while the slow lane is still closed following two separate multiple truck crashes today (November 27).

The crashes, which occurred in a space of two hours, left multiple people injured. On the weekend two people were killed after a truck lost control, knocked workers on the side of the road and veered down an embankment in the same vicinity.

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the first collision happened just after 11:00 when they received calls of a serious multiple vehicle crash just before the toll plaza.

Also read: MEC sends condolences after workers killed in N3 truck crash

Arriving at the scene, Jamieson said paramedics found that a truck with a trailer had failed to stop and attempted to avoid vehicles and went up a bank, however, its trailer overturned onto a vehicle and a fully laden taxi.

“A total of eleven people had sustained various injuries and once stabilised on the scene they were transported to various Durban hospitals.”

He said paramedics were again called to another multiple truck crash in the backlog on the N3 at 12:30.

“Paramedics arrived on scene to find most of the highway obstructed by trucks involved in the crash. Four trucks and a vehicle had been involved, leaving five people injured. The injured were stabilised on scene before being transported to nearby hospitals.”

MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said in a statement these collisions are happening as they are attending the last sitting of the year in the Provincial Legislature.

“The appointment of 197 newly trained and registered Traffic Law Enforcement has significantly strengthened our law enforcement capacity. It has substantially enhanced daily law enforcement operations between Pietermaritzburg and Durban where there is construction

“We are now ensuring a quicker response to any incidents / accidents with the support from Durban Metro Police, Umsunduzi Traffic Department and South African Police Services,” said Duma in a statement.

Also read: Two killed, one wounded in hail of bullets in Pinetown ambush

He said upgrades within the vicinity of Key Ridge, Hammarsdale and Pietermaritzburg interchanges have been undertaken to remove hazardous merge areas.

“We are working in conjunction with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). This has enabled us to ensure better traffic management during road construction.

“We are also strengthening controlled speed zones and improving road signage within construction areas.”

With this, the MEC said they are aiming at reducing the number of accidents.

“In particular, with the change of the road infrastructure, primarily between Ashburton to the N3 / N2 Interchange, this has assisted in aligning dangerous curves, rebuilding interchanges and resurfacing the road infrastructure to reduce road accidents between Pietermaritzburg and Durban,” added Duma.

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