Motorists should make way for emergency vehicles
An accident occurred on Saturday afternoon involving an emergency services (EMS) vehicle on the corner of Piet Retief Street and the R40, near Sonpark Shopping Centre.
An eyewitness said an ER24 response vehicle, which had its sirens on, was coming from the direction of White River towards Barberton. Another vehicle, crossing the intersection from Piet Retief Street, collided with the EMS vehicle.
ER24 communications officer Russell Meiring confirmed the incident. “We cannot comment on what caused the accident as it is still under investigation.”
He did advise motorists that when they are approaching traffic lights and they hear sirens or see emergency vehicle lights to slow down. “If you are on the road and an ambulance or police vehicle has its sirens on, make way for it.”
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City of Mbombela Local Municipality spokesman Joseph Ngala also warned road users that when rescue vehicles respond to an accident scene with sirens and their emergency lights on, motorists should promptly give way.
This after one of the municipality’s emergency response vehicles was also involved in an accident at a traffic light on May 8. Firemen were responding to an accident on the KaMagugu Road when they themselves were involved in one. The incident occurred on the corner of Samora Machel Drive and Valencia Road.
Eyewitnesses on the scene confirmed this response vehicle also had its sirens on when the accident happened.
Another accident reported over the weekend was that a pedestrian was struck on the N4 near i’langa Mall. An eyewitness said a man crossed the road at the mall going to the Puma garage. “He did not cross at the traffic lights, which are a few metres away.” There was a Volkwagen Golf travelling from Halls to Mbombela. “The man ran between two vehicles and as he exited, the Golf knocked him over.” The driver stopped to assist the victim. “He told me he had not seen the pedestrian.”
Emer-G-Med operations manager, Martin Jeffrey said they responded to the scene. “The patient was a male in his mid-30s. He had a fracture to his left lower leg, which was stabilised, and we transported him to Rob Ferreira Hospital.”
