LYDENBURG – Two separate accidents at virtually the same spot happened on Saturday morning and Monday afternoon respectively.
On Saturday, a Nissan Sentra coming down the Longtom Pass spun out of control at the circle at the Heads and crashed into a rock on the side of the road.All four passengers in the vehicle were seriously injured and taken to Lydenburg Hospital.
The second accident occurred when a minibus taxi overturned at nearly the same spot on Monday.
Only one of the passengers sustained serious injuries and was also taken to Lydenburg Hospital. The others miraculously sustained only minor cuts and bruises.
Local Hazmat operator, Mr Deon Broekman explained that speed played a big role in both these accidents. “Speed and the fact that drivers drive on their brakes in the pass plays a major role.
When the brakes of a vehicle get too hot, it gets spongy and it’s only when you have to brake hard, like at the circle, that you realise that the brakes have failed.”
He said that the summer heat also contributes to the failure of vehicles’ brakes.
“This is why brakes are more likely to fail in higher temperatures.
“What also contributes to this is the fact that a vehicle might also be overloaded and as a result the brakes are forced to work harder.”
