Three people were killed late on the evening of September 6 when a VW Polo crashed into the rear of an Isuzu bakkie on the N4 toll road between Karino and the Valencia interchange.

Five people were in the Polo, which overturned after the collision. Three passengers were flung from the vehicle and died at the scene. The other two were stabilised by paramedics before being transported to medical facilities in Mbombela.

ALSO READ: Three killed, one critically injured in N4 crash near Crocodile Gorge

The occupants of the bakkie escaped without injury.

“The cause of the crash is not known at this stage. However, three cases of culpable homicide are being investigated,” said Moeti Musi, spokesperson of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.