Two people were injured in a head-on collision on the R40 opposite Matumi Fresh Produce on Tuesday March 25. The accident happened at about 09:15 and a Red Volvo and a White Tazz were involved.
Mr Johan Botes in the Volvo was on his way from Hazyview to White River when a white Toyota Tazz already in the oncoming lane turning right into Matumi Fresh Produce.
Botes swerved left to avoid the collision but the Toyota still hit him on the left front side of his vehicle. The second car was driven by Ms Sarah Porter and passenger Mr Nick Wood.
Paramedical Incident & Consulting Services (PRU) was immediately called to the scene. “When we arrived at the scene we realised we may have to call in additional help to extract the passengers from their vehicles,” said Mr Marius van Staden, owner of PRU.”We contacted the fire brigade, the SAPS, traffic department, and ER24 and LifeMed ambulances. “The patients were stabilised and extricated from the vehicles with C- spine immobilisation equipment. It was suspected that Porter sustained a pelvic fracture as a result of the accident. One of the passengers, Botes, has had several back operations previously and we were worried that further damage might have been done to his already weakened back.”
Hazyview Herald spoke to Ms Susan Botes and she confirmed that her husband had gone to Mediclinic Nelspruit where they attended to him. “They advised us to rather go to my husband’s specialist in Pretoria due to his serious back condition,” said Susan.
“He has had numerous operations over the years which have resulted in a number of screws being placed in his spine. He is presently in a great deal of pain and must before we can travel to Pretoria. It is very likely that the impact of the accident has resulted in some of the screws becoming loose or moving from their original positions.”
It has been confirmed by Matumi that both Wood and Porter are fine although they have suffered numerous bruises.
Wood is the son of Mr Anton and Ms Maryanne Wood, owners of Matumi Fresh Produce.
“I am pleased that both drivers were not severely injured as head-on collisions usually have devastating results for vehicle occupants,” said Mr Ken Robertson, DA councillor of Hazyview.
“The Mpumalanga Traffic Engineering Department should evaluate high accident areas such as this one and introduce the necessary measures to protect both pedestrians and roads users.”
