One person died and seven others, including a two-year old boy, were seriously injured when their vehicle overturned on the R40 at around 08:00 this morning. The accident occurred just past St Clouds B&B and the vehicle, an Avanza, was filled with nurses on their way to White River.
Sergeant G.S. Mbuyane from White River SAPS was first on the scene. “The driver, a female nurse, had lost control of the vehicle,” said Mbuyane. “The vehicle veered all over the road and eventually hit an embankment on the opposite side of the road. The accident was not caused by the Avanza hitting a pothole.”
Constable Mhlongo from White River Flying Squad measured the skid marks of the vehicle which started from about 80 meters before it collided with the embankment. The Avanza rolled a number of times before it came to a standstill against a gum tree. While the vehicle was rolling all the passengers were flung out of it.
Ambulances from ER24 and EMS responded to the incident. They transported the injured to various hospitals.
Ms Robyn Baard from Mediclinic Nelspruit confirmed that they had received two female patients from the accident scene. “The patients are not in a critical condition and are stable,” Baard said.
