Two people were injured in a head-on collision on the R40 opposite Matumi Fresh Produce on Tuesday, 25 March. The accident took place at approx. 09:15 and a Red Volvo and a White Tazz was involved. Mr Johan Botes was driving in a red Volvo coming from Hazyview going to White River when a white Toyota Tazz wwas already in the oncoming lane turning right into Matumi fresh Produce. Mr Botes served left to avoid the collision but the Toyata still hit him on the front left side of his vehicle. The second car was being driven by Sarah Porter and accompanied by Mr Nick Wood.
Paramedical incident & consulting services (PRU) was immediately called to the scene. “When we arrived on the scene we realised that we may have to call in additional help to extract the passengers from their vehicles,” said Marius van Staden, owner PRU. “We contacted the fire brigade, the SAPS, traffic department and ER 24 and LifeMed ambulances.” “The patients were stabilised and extricated from the vehicle with C Spine immobilisation equipment. It was suspected that Ms Porter may have a pelvic fracture as a result of the accident.
One of the passengers, Mr Botes, has had several back operations previously and we were worried that further damage may have been done to his already weakened back.” Hazyview Herald spoke to Mrs Susan Botes and she confirmed that her husband did go to Mediclinic where they attended to him. “They advised us to rather go to my husband’s specialist in Pretoria due his serious back condition,” said Botes. “My husband has had so many back operations over the years which have resulted in numerous screws placed in his spine. He is presently in a great deal of pain and must remain in bed with as little movement as possible for some time before we can drive through to Pretoria. It is very likely that the impact of the accident has resulted in some of the screws becoming loose or moving from their original position”
It has been confirmed by Matumi that both Mr Wood and Ms Porter are fine although they have suffered numerous bruises. Mr Wood is the son of Anton and Maryanne Wood the owners of Matumi Fresh Produce. “I am pleased that both drivers were not injured as head on collisions usually bare devastating results for vehicle occupants,” said Mr Ken Robertson, DA councillor Hazyview. The Mpumalanga traffic engineering department should evaluate high accident areas such as this one and apply the necessary measures to protect both pedestrians and roads users. Issues such as illegal fruit stalls which block signage visibility, illegal and dangerous entrances, incorrect road signage and of course unmaintained roads are all contributing factors to road accidents and deaths.”
This particular stretch of road has reportedly delivered numerous accidents. It is a blind rise if you are coming from White River towards Hazyview. The road is also a double lane in a short section up the hill and suddenly ends in one lane as vehicles move towards the top of the slope. There are no warning signs to slow down or that the lane in narrowing. Furthermore, drivers exiting from Matumi can’t see oncoming vehicles from Hazyview before they come over the hill.
Motorists also complain that there are confusing speed limits on this section of the R40. Driving in a northerly direction from Matumi to Numbi Park it is 80km. However driving towards Matumi it is 100km.
