Critically injured driver airlifted after horror truck crash
Firefighters found the driver of the Merc trapped in his vehicle and had to use the Jaws of Life to free him from the wreckage.
One person was airlifted to hospital after sustaining critical injuries during a collision between a Mercedes-Benz and a truck on the R24 near Magaliesburg at about 10.30pm on Monday, 17 April.
Two other people who were also involved in the collision sustained moderate injuries.
ER24 paramedics together with other emergency service personnel arrived on scene and found the truck on its side and a severely damaged Mercedes-Benz a few metres away.
Firefighters found the driver of the Merc trapped inside his vehicle and had to use the Jaws of Life to free him from the wreckage. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
The remaining two occupants were assessed and treated on scene before being transported to hospital. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries. The cause of the collision remains subject to investigation and local authorities were on scene to gather evidence.
There have been many collisions over the past month on this particular road, for instance, on 6 April, a truck driver was pinned inside his overturned vehicle for quite a while before paramedics could reach him.
Drivers are urged to drive with caution when on this road to avoid collisions and stay safe.
Here are some helpful tips on how truck drivers can stay safe on the roads as suggested by Arrive Alive:
• Take care of yourself. Rest well before your journey and take breaks as you travel to ensure you are well rested. Eat healthy and stay fit. Remember, hours of service violations are serious and can threaten your livelihood or even your life.
• Maintain your vehicle in a good condition. Inspect it before each trip and check your brakes regularly. Learn how to inspect your brakes, identify safety defects, and get them repaired before risking the lives of you and others on the highway.
• Be aware of your “No-Zone”. Other drivers may not be aware of the size of your truck’s blind spots. Be vigilant in watching out for vehicles in the No-Zone, which represents the danger areas, or blind spots, around trucks and buses in which crashes are more likely to occur. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the No-Zone.
• Slow down in work zones. Watch out for highway construction. Stay alert. Work zone crashes are more likely to happen during the day. Almost one-third of fatal crashes in work zones involved large trucks. Take your time going through work zones and give yourself plenty of room. Expect the unexpected!
• Always keep your distance. Always leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you hit someone from behind, you are typically considered “at fault,” regardless of the situation. Large trucks require more stopping distances than other vehicles. Take advantage of your driving height, and anticipate braking situations.
• Fasten your seat belt. Buckle up for safety and control. If you are in a crash, a seat belt can save both your life and those of people around you. It will keep you in your seat and allow you to maintain control of your truck or bus. A major cause of truck and bus driver fatalities involves being ejected from the vehicle. Wearing a seat belt is still the single most effective thing all drivers can do to save lives and reduce injures on our roadways.
• Always drive defensively. Avoid aggressive drivers! It’s estimated that each year two-thirds of all traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving behaviours. Keep your distance and maintain a safe speed. The only thing speed will increase is your chance of having a crash.
• Work to help yourself. Be the professional on the highway and at safety events! Help stranded motorists, notify traffic safety agencies of crashes, unsafe drivers, unsafe roadway conditions, and other situations that can lead to crashes. Your participation in public safety events and your performance on the highway can change public perceptions of truck drivers.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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