Eleven die after panel van and truck collides on R40

Another eleven deaths have been added to the list of lives lost in accidents on the R40 between White River and Hazyview. In this latest incident on September 11 a truck and panel van collided just after 16:00 about 15km from White River.

According to Mr Moete Mmusi of the Department of Safety and Security, the two vehicles were travelling towards White River when the panel van collided with the back of the truck. Both vehicles lost control and overturned. The truck was carrying passengers of which six were killed instantly.

Thirteen people, including the two drivers, were rushed to Themba and Rob Ferreira Hospitals. Eleven people were seriously injured, with one being airlifted to Rob Ferreira due to the severity of his injuries. On Tuesday afternoon, Mmusi reported that five more people had died in hospital.

The families of the deceased were called to identify them and it was established that five of the victims were from Mozambique and six from Bushbuckridge. Mmusi stated that no mass funeral would be held but that the Road Accident Fund would assist with the cost of the funerals.

The collision resulted in heavy delays on the R40 and R538 alternative road, which is currently under construction and has several stop-and-gos in place.

The MEC for safety, security and liaison, Mr Vusi Shongwe, visited the scene and called upon truck owners and drivers not to transport people on the back of their vehicles in an effort to reduce fatalities and injuries from crashes involving trucks. He also sent his condolences to the families of the deceased and visited the injured in hospital the day after the accident to wish them a speedy recovery.

Shongwe called for an in-depth investigation into the accident in order for appropriate action to be taken to avoid similar incidents in future.