Six killed in two bakkie accidents in 24 hours
Authorities in Mpumalanga are gravely concerned about road safety following two bakkie crashes that claimed six lives in less than 24 hours.
Two separate bakkie crashes claimed six lives in the last 24 hours in Mpumalanga.
In the first crash, a bakkie travelling from Mbombela towards Umjindi on the R40 around 05:15 this morning overturned and ended in a ditch on the side of the road.
Three people were killed instantly, one person was critically injured and two people sustained light injuries. The driver is among those who were injured.
In another incident, three people died last night around 19:30 when a driver of a bakkie lost control and overturned on the N4 between Mbombela and Schagen towards the Sudwala Caves.
Eight people were moderately injured, while another person was seriously injured. The deceased included the driver.
The injured in both accidents were rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela.
In both cases the drivers seemingly lost control of their vehicles before they crashed. The police are busy with further investigations.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Gabisile Shabalala, has called on motorists to be more cautious on the road to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
ALSO READ: Laerskool Malelane teacher charged with sexual assault
Shabalala added that the government and its stakeholders are doing all it can to curb these road accidents, but road users have to obey the rules of the road.
“We all have a role to play because being safe on the road is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.
She wished those who were injured a speedy recovery and also sent heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones.
