Cow body parts scattered on R40 in bakkie accident
Following the recent accident on the R40 between Mbombela and White River, involving cow heads and intestines, residents of the city are suggesting methods to better control traffic and prevent similar incidents.
It is not uncommon for livestock crossing the road to be the cause of traffic coming to a standstill in the Lowveld.
On Tuesday April 11, this was the case yet again, only this time in a slightly different fashion.
According to a member of the Mbombela Fire and Rescue, a woman driving a bakkie on the R40 between Mbombela and White River allegedly lost control of her vehicle and went over the embankment near Coastal Hire Tuesday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Legacy of the laughing hyena, Rafiki, lives on
The woman was transporting several cow heads and other intestines she had bought from an abattoir, supposedly in the city, on the back of her bakkie.
When the bakkie hit the embankment, it overturned, scattering the load all over the road, causing traffic to be delayed.
The Mbombela traffic department and emergency services were all on the scene. According to Russel Meiring, spokesperson of ER24, no one was seriously hurt during the accident, and the women, allegedly in her 30s, only sustained minor injuries when her bakkie overturned.
“ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the bakkie on its side in the road. The female driver was seen walking around,” Meiring said.
After an assessment by the medics, the woman was treated and transported to Rob Ferreira Hospital for further care.
ALSO READ: Hoërskool Rob Ferreira rakes in the medals at SAs
A Facebook post, reporting the incident on the R40 Mpumalanga public group, evoked some reaction as well. Several residents of the city suggested that the road needs some speed humps or a traffic light, especially at the intersection near Coastal Hire to help control the speed and flow of traffic.
In response to this, Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, explained that the roads in the country are controlled by separate entities, depending on whether they are municipal, provincial or national. “We look at the frequency and nature of accidents,” he said, and added that the budget, the amount of traffic and use of the relevant road must also be considered. According to Mmusi, recommendations in this regard are made to the relevant authorities.
The Nelspruit SPCA was also on the scene to help clean up the heads and intestines from the road.
