SCHOEMANSKLOOF – Four people were killed in a crash on the N4 near the Viva Filling Station on Tuesday, January 19, night. A minibus taxi collided with two light delivery vehicles at about 21:30.
According to Mr Joseph Mabuza, spokes-man for the department of community safety, security and liaison, it was believed that the minibus, which had been towing a trailer at the time, might have lost control before colliding with the two other vehicles.
The minibus was coming from the direction of Machadodorp, while both the delivery vehicles were travelling in the opposite direction.
Mabuza added that one lane was closed on Wednesday morning to allow personnel to clean up the scene. “When we visited the scene this morning there were people cleaning up the debris. One lane had to be closed but traffic was running smoothly,” Mabuza said. The SAPS were also on the scene.
All four deceased were occupants of both delivery vehicles – a driver and a passenger from a Daihatsu and two passengers of an Isuzu. Six passengers in the minibus, and the driver of the Isuzu, sustained serious injuries. The driver of the minibus escaped with minor injuries. Paramedics had to rely on their superior skills to assist the victims. Some of the injured had to be rushed to hospital to receive urgent medical attention.
Community safety, security and liaison MEC, Mr Vusi Shongwe, sent condolences to the families of the deceased and also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
However, he expressed his concern about the increasing number of crashes in the province, saying there was a need to intensify road safety education and law enforcement.
“Although we cannot have traffic officers working throughout the night in all corners of the province, motorists need to be mindful that recklessness and negligence endanger other road users, hence killing innocent people,” Shongwe said.
Shongwe also urged motorists to work with government by reporting reckless driving to authorities and also by obeying traffic rules.
