UPDATE: Driver of military vehicle goes over the edge of a bridge in the KNP
The driver of a military vehicle went over a bridge in the KNP and overturned in the riverbed of the Crocodile River earlier today.
SKUKUZA – The driver of a Samil 20, belonging to the military base in the Kruger National Park (KNP), went over the edge of a two-metre-high bridge over the Crocodile River in the park yesterday at 6:30.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed that the vehicle was en route to fetch water for a deployment when the incident took place.
Four SANDF members sustained minor injuries and are currently at the Sandriver Base under medical observation and should soon join the rest of their platoon to continue with borderline operations.
The members are deployed in the Kruger National Park under Operation CORONA and work in close support and conjunction with other Law Enforcement Agencies to curb illegal border crossings which could include poachers.
A board of Inquiry was convened which will determine the circumstances which lead to the accident as well as to determine the damage and recommend future actions.
There was diesel spillage into the river and a company to attend to the spill was appointed immediately in order to avoid possible pollution to water and the environment in general.
“Although a spill clean-up company is underway, we immediately activated the water tanks at the Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp as back-up for clean drinking water until the spill clean-up is completed and the water in the river is evaluated. No serious injuries from the four army staff were reported; however we would like to appeal to both staff and the public to please pay extra attention when driving on the KNP roads in particular those with low level bridges”, said the KNP Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips.
Phillips also advised tourists to be aware of large vehicle restrictions on gravel roads inside the Park as these are not accessible to caravans, buses or vehicles exceeding a certain mass, type or size. Under general rules on the entry permits which guests receive at the gates, it says vehicles with a carrying capacity of 4000kg, buses or any vehicles with more than 25 seats are restricted to the tar roads only.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Zaheer Gangat, who was driving close behind to the vehicle, the driver was not speeding. Another eyewitness, Liz Holmwood, said the passengers and driver looked shaken but not seriously hurt.
* An elderly man recently overturned a car in Satara.
