Witness recalls yesterday’s Kranspoort Pass accident
“We are grateful to be alive today because it happened in a matter of seconds.”
Yesterday’s crash on the N11 Kranspoort Pass resulted in the pass being closed for 20 hours.
The road closure was a result of a truck carrying hazardous chemicals crashing, and spilling its cargo.
An eyewitness, Andre Bosch, said he was heading to Middelburg in a convoy at around 08:30, when he saw the truck drive down the pass at high speed.
At the time, he was travelling in a Toyota Hilux bakkie.
As the truck was descending the hill, the truck began tipping over.
“The driver of the bakkie I was in immediately slammed on the brakes and swung out for the truck, as it started to slide toward us on its side.”
He said the bakkie narrowly avoided the truck but crashed into the poles dividing the road.
Shortly after the incident, “I looked back; the area was covered in dust from hazardous materials, and something had caught fire.”
The crash also involved a station wagon which catching fire. The occupants were rushed to the hospital.
Read more: Vehicle catches fire in Kranspoort multi-vehicle accident
Bosch said he spoke to the driver of the vehicle behind him, who said, “The truck hit the side wall and started moving upright on its wheels further down the Kranspoort Pass.”
“We are grateful to be alive today because it happened in a matter of seconds,” Bosch said.
The bakkie he was in only suffered a few deep scratches to the front bumper.
Fortunately, no injuries were sustained.
@middelburgobserver A fire has broken out at the accident scene in Kranspoort Pass, in which a vehicle crashed into a lost load of hazardous chemicals. The pass between Middelburg and Groblersdal is currently closed.
