VIDEO AND PICTURES: Occupants miraculously survive horror crash

The rescue operation lasted for more than two hours.

July 20, 2018

Narda Vermaak 1 minute read

LYDENBURG – A horrific accident occurred at the corner of De Qlerk and Voortrekker Street on Thursday night.

Three occupants of a Mini Cooper S collided with a haul truck.

According to Deon Broekman of Rapid Response, the driver of the Mini was speeding down Voortrekker Street and jumped a red light. He collided with the truck and the body of the vehicle was pinned under the trailers and axles of the truck.

Johannes Mmola a security guard appointed by the various shops located in these streets told the newspaper on the scene that he heard a loud bang and ran to investigate. “I saw the truck and then I realised that a car had collided with it.”

Johannes and another bystander managed to pull two female occupants from the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle was, however, stuck in the wreck. Rescue personnel which included Rapid Response, Netcare 911 paramedics and EMS paramedics immediately responded to the scene.

A Netcare paramedic climbed through the sunroof to stabilise the driver. Rapid Response had to use the jaws of life to cut the door of the wrangled vehicle. The space to free the driver, was, however still limited. A jack was used to lift the axle of the truck and a tow truck had to pull the vehicle from the underneath the truck.

The driver was freed from the wreck and taken to Mediclinic in Mbombela. According to Netcare 911 paramedic, Andre Denysschen, the man sustained a possible fractured collarbone and broken ribs. The other two occupants sustained minor injuries.

Rescue personnel concluded that the driver and occupants of the Mini were extremely lucky to have survived the horrific crash.

According to Deon Broekman, drivers take a lot of chances at night especially at busy intersections in town. “SAPS can’t be everywhere and drivers tend to disregard traffic laws late at night.”

The rescue operation lasted for more than two hours.