UPDATE: The identification of the N4 victims in progress
The accident claimed the lives of nine people, among them children, in the early hours of yesterday. They have started identifying them.
Wednesday February 7
The process of identifying eight of the nine people who were burnt beyond recognition during an accident between an bakkie and an SUV on Monday, has commenced. The process will include drawing DNA samples from the deceased’s next of kin and positively linking them to the deceased. “The police are working hard to ensure that all the families in Mozambique are speedily contacted,” said Joseph Mabuza, spokesman for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.
Tuesday February 6
MBOMBELA – Three children were still alive when Ruben Smit came across the gruesome accident that claimed the lives of nine people early yesterday morning.
Only two minors survived the head-on collision. Some of the victims were burned beyond recognition after a SUV and a bakkie collided on the N4 near Karino.
The Marloth Park resident said he was on his way home from Johannesburg when he arrived shortly after 02:00.
“It had just happened. I think I was the second car on the scene,” Smit said.
Other people who were trapped in the vehicles were still screaming for help, but they did not scream for long, he said. “The inferno was just too bad.”
Three children were lying on the ground a short distance away. They were badly burned, but alive, Smit said. An ambulance took them to hospital. One of them, a 17-year-old boy, later succumbed to his injuries in Rob Ferreira Hospital. The other two, a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, were the only survivors.
By 02:52 no traffic or fire department or police were on the scene yet, Smit added. The burned body of another child was discovered hours later. It could not be determined whether it was a boy or a girl who was trapped between the burned bodies of the adult driver and passenger.
The initial death toll was eight, but upon removing the bodies, the provincial Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Unit discovered the child’s body at around 07:00.
Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesman, Joseph Mabuza, confirmed that the child was one of four occupants of the SUV, who all died on the scene.
TRAC called it the most gruesome accident on the N4 in recent times.
Also read: UPDATE: Police officer may be charged for traffic officer’s death
A bakkie towing a heavily loaded trailer, presumably travelling to Mozambique, collided head-on with a SUV heading in the opposite direction. It is alleged that the former veered into the oncoming vehicle’s lane, causing the collision. The exact cause has, however, not been determined yet. Both vehicles caught fire upon impact, incinerating the eight victims.
At the time of going to press, the identities of the deceased had not been released. Dumisane Malamule – spokesman for the provincial Department of Health, confirmed that the two minors were being treated for severe burns and are in a critical condition in Rob Ferreira Hospital.
The incident occurred just after the Karino intersection, causing heavy delays for hours. The road was, however, opened soon after the pathology unit concluded its investigation.
Brig Leonard Hlathi said he had no knowledge of a call to police. “The witness must make a formal complaint to SAPS before we can investigate the matter further.
“TRAC, as the concessionaire of this road, which strives towards the safety of motorists, is deeply saddened by this loss,” said its spokesman, Solange Soares Nicholson. She added that the incident highlighted the dangers of driving on the N4 at night, due to heavy loads heading to Mozambique.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) sent its heartfelt condolences to friends and families of those who died.
“As is the case with accidents of such devastating proportions, we are in pain as the RAF family but will do everything in our power to ease the emotional and financial burden of the survivors and victims’ families.
“Our team in Mpumalanga will work alongside the police to verify the identities of the deceased in order to begin providing the necessary support,” said marketing officer, Phumelela Dhlomo.
Also read: BREAKING NEWS: Local firefighter dies in Franschoek blaze
Monday 5 February 2018
MBOMBELA – An eyewitness on the scene of the horrific crash on the N4 this morning claims that the accident took place at about 02:10, and not 3:50 as authorities claimed.
He said he arrived shortly after the accident occurred. Another bystander informed him that he had phoned the police.
By the time the witness left the scene almost an hour later, no police, fire brigade or traffic officials were on scene yet. Only an ambulance had taken three patients to hospital.
The above image was taken while both vehicles were still burning at 2:52 AM.
When the police was asked for comments on the allegation, they responded by saying that they were not aware of the accident being reported to them at that time.
An SUV and a bakkie collided near Karino on the N4 just outside Mbombela at about 03:50 on Monday.
Both vehicles caught fire. According to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison eight people died on the scene and one was taken to hospital.
The scene is currently being cleared.
ALSO SEE: Decorated traffic officer dies
Traffic was severely affected with all vehicles being redirected to KaNyamazane Road, which is still backed up. TRAC N4 has in the menatime indicated that the N4 is now open.
#TRACN4route UPDATE 05/01 at 08:06 Accident scene cleared btw Uitkyk + Karino KMIA (R538) ROAD OPEN.
— TRAC N4 Toll Route (@TRACN4route) February 5, 2018
