NELSPRUIT – It was a black weekend on Mpumalanga’s roads as 16 people succumbed in accidents. The carnage started early Friday morning when seven people were killed in what can only be described as a horrific head-on collission on the N4 at Karino.
The accident occurred at about 06:00. The exact cause is unknown, but a taxi was travelling towards Nelspruit and a Nissan X-Trail in the opposite direction when they collided.
Paramedics of Netcare 911 and LifeMed responded, as well as officials of the fire brigade, police and traffic department. What they found on the scene, was horrendous. Five occupants of the taxi, including the driver, were killed on impact. One of them was disembowelled and it was clear that they all sustained severe fractures.
The driver of the X-Trail and his passenger were also killed on impact. Four men and three women died. At the time of going to press, spokesman for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison did not disclose the particulars of the deceased. However, according to the licence found on the taxi driver’s body, he was Mr MC Mdluli (39). The owner Mr James Ngwaqa, arrived at the scene and said that the driver resided in Pienaar.
Mr Vusi Shongwe, MEC for community safety, security and liaison, also arrived at the scene and was shocked at what he saw. He urged motorists, via the media, not to overload or drink and drive and to abide by the road regulations.
The road wasn’t closed, but traffic was allowed to pass in only one direction. Firemen had to use the Jaws of Life to free the body of the X-Trail’s driver. Empty Hunters Dry cans were also found on the scene, but it is not clear out of which wreckage they fell. The bodies were finally removed at about 08:00.
Nine more people were killed in four other accidents on Sunday. Three died when two vehicles collided head-on at Stoffberg between Middelburg and Groblersdal. Four more sustained serious injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. Three perished when a sedan crashed into a wall on the N4 between Bronkhorstspruit and eMalahleni. Another accident between Kriel and Bethal claimed one man’s life when he lost control of his vehicle and it overturned.
In the fourth accident, a taxi driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle before it overturned on the N2 between Ermelo and Piet Retief. Two people were killed on impact. Thirteen more were seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Again Shongwe called on motorists to be more alert as the incremental weather conditions may have played a hand in some of the accidents. He further called on law-enforcement agencies to show no mercy to those who drive recklessly and show no regard to traffic regulations. “The spate of accidents on our roads is becoming a huge concern and we must all play our part to bring it down,” he concluded.
