ROCKY DRIFT – A second accident in less than 24 hours at the infamous Plaston intersection on Friday morning which claimed the lives of 11 people, is causing a public outcry as people want to know what is going to be done to prevent horrific crashes like these from happening again.

Just the previous afternoon, an accident occurred at the very same spot, claiming the life of a Netherlands teenager (see story here).

A taxi carrying 15 passengers on its way to Mbombela from KaBokweni, seemingly failed to stop at the intersection. It is suspected that the brakes might have failed or that the driver of the minibus was travelling at a high speed. The taxi went straight over the R40.

The driver lost control when the taxi hit the kerb separating the two lanes, went through a ditch and flipped upon this impact. The passengers were flung out, landing several metres from the vehicle.

Seven people were declared dead on the scene. Three more occupants died of their injuries shortly after arriving at Rob Ferreira Hospital. A woman who was in a critical condition, and subsequently airlifted to hospital, was declared dead on arrival.

It has been confirmed that the other four occupants of the minibus whose injuries were described as “life threatening” on Friday, are now in a stable condition in Rob Ferreira.

In August 2011, a very similar accident occurred at the intersection in which two Korean citizens and a South African was killed. According to eyewitnesses, a truck carrying a load of sand also came from the direction of KaBokweni and failed to stop at the intersection.

It swerved directly into oncoming traffic, hitting a truck of Azuco Auto Spares. Its driver, Mr Michael Malumani (56), was killed upon impact.

Two more vehicles, a Toyota Fortuner and a delivery bakkie that had been travelling to White River, crashed into the two trucks. One of the occupants of the Fortuner who was sitting in front, was flung from the vehicle and was killed upon impact.

Another occupant sustained severe head injuries and later died on her way to Mediclinic Nelspruit. It was later established that the truck’s licence had expired almost two years prior to the incident.

The most recent incident caused the public to force action to be taken. Despite reports that speed humps, a traffic light and a traffic circle was to be set up before the end of yesterday (Monday), Mr Moeti Mmusi, communication officer for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, said that it might be part of the plan implemented in an attempt to lessen accidents at this intersection.

However, for now, the only step that is going to be taken is to increase law enforcement.

“Investigations need to be done to determine what exactly needs to be done to improve the safety of our road users,” Mmusi said.

MEC for the department, Mr Vusi Shongwe, who arrived shortly after on the scene, said that recent incidents were a sign that motorists did not adhere to the rules of the road and the law had to take its course to ensure that the drivers who caused these accidents were prosecuted. “Taxi owners must ensure that their drivers are properly trained and fit to be on the road. We can’t lose so many lives due to recklessness of drivers,” said Shongwe.

The executive mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, also lamented the fact that most of the casualties were still economically active people who were either breadwinners or heads of families and left orphans behind.

“We appeal to all motorists to take extra care on the roads, especially those who ferry passengers,” the mayor said. “We send our condolences to all the bereaved families. Your loss is our loss and I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” concluded Mathonsi.

He added the municipality would move swiftly to implement speed-control measures on the stretch of road that has become a death trap.

These will cover a wide range of interventions on the road surface as well as increased visibility of traffic control officers and operations to be stepped up as part of its efforts to save lives on the roads.

The municipality, in partnership with the Provincial Department of Community Safety and Liaison as well as the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport view this last accident as a disaster that will need a collective effort to assist the bereaved families. A task team has already been set up to look into this matter.

Read other related stories here:

12 injured in Rocky Drift pile-up

Multiple fatalities at horror accident

Nine confirmed dead at horror accident