BARBERTON – At approximately 17:00 on Saturday a terrible accident occurred on the R40 just opposite the Jathira filling station.
From what we could gather from bystanders, a red Volkswagen Golf with five male occupants, in exiting the petrol station, attempted to enter the R40, but was hit by a white Colt bakkie. The Golf came to a standstill on the other side of the road in the adjacent veld and the Colt with its front facing Barberton.
From the skid marks on the road it appears as if the Colt was coming from the direction of Barberton. This could however not be confirmed as chaos erupted moments after the accident.
A Korean missionary couple, who was on the scene just after the accident had occurred, managed to free two passengers on the back seat of the Golf and they were admitted to hospital with serious injuries.The driver and front-seat passenger were apparently still alive at the time, but they couldn’t reach the victims. Both died on the scene and Barberton Fire & Rescue workers had to free the bodies from the wreckage with the Jaws of Life afterwards.
The occupants of the Colt bakkie, a man and a woman, sustained severe injuries and were passive but alert when the media arrived on the scene. They were admitted to hospital.
The SAPS, Nelspruit ER24, Barberton EMS and Fire & Rescue officials, provincial traffic and JG Towing Services all worked together as a team to free the bodies, tend to the injured and to secure and clear the scene.
Mere minutes after JG Towing Services left with the wreckage of the Colt, it caught fire and the fire truck which had just arrived back at the station, had to rush back. The managed to extinguish the blaze before the petrol tank caught fire.
Barberton Fire & Rescue officials wish to extend their gratitude to the Korean couple for their assistance at the scene.
