Accident that claimed six lives being investigated
A woman who came across the scene with her family described it as horrific and traumatising.
There is no update yet following the R38 accident that claimed six lives, including that of a child, on December 4.
A VW Polo and truck collided head-on on this road between Barberton and eManzana. Of the six people, five were in a VW Polo; the other deceased was the driver of the truck.
The passenger in the truck had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A woman who came across the scene with her family described it as horrific and traumatising. They had their children with them and wanted to make sure they did not witness the horror.
“This is the third accident we have witnessed. Roads are terrible and one takes your life in your hands when travelling.”
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According to the spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCCSL), Moeti Mmusi, an investigation is ongoing and the safety engineering team is in the process of reconstructing the scene, looking at things like road conditions, road worthiness of vehicles, and reckless and negligent driving.
“It is believed one of the drivers was attempting to overtake dangerously when the crash occurred,” read a statement by the department on the day of the accident.
Mmusi said the passenger of the truck was still in hospital.
At this stage, he continued, it is still unclear who will be held responsible as both drivers had died. “The investigation will reveal to us who will be held accountable.”
In light of the festive season road safety campaign that Vusi Shongwe, the MEC for the DCCSL, launched on December 9, Lowvelder posed the question to Mmusi, whether the MEC believes these drives really make a difference.
Although there will be an increase in the presence of traffic officials through the campaign, and the MEC has called for stiffer sentences for violations, especially when people lose their lives.
One thing remains true for Shongwe though; the department cannot win this fight alone. The Road Traffic Management Corporation and government as a whole have spent “a considerable amount of money on road safety”, but drivers need to take heed of warnings and obey the rules of the road.
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Mmusi said there are many good drivers out there, and considerate ones, both in cars and trucks. And it is not that people cannot drive, they just take chances.
He pointed out that one accident after the other is worrying, but they occur mostly when one driver is found in a lane in which he or she is not supposed to be.
Keeping all the above in mind, this festive season the department will focus on four main aspects during its drive: excessive speeding, drunken driving, wearing of seat belts and pedestrian safety.
“These accidents worry the MEC. They might even affect tourism. People hear of accidents and think there is general lawlessness in the province,” Mmusi concluded.
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