A motorist’s dashcam captured the first shocking moments of the four-vehicle accident that claimed one life and injured five others between the Woestalleen and Arnot offramps yesterday.

According to the driver, who asked to remain anonymous, all the vehicles were travelling towards Nelspruit at the time. He was driving in the fast lane when the incident unfolded right next to him.

The footage shows a Suzuki suddenly swerving over into the emergency lane, where it struck the back of a VW Polo that was stationary on the shoulder. The dashcam vehicle narrowly avoided impact by mere millimetres, but two vehicles behind him were unable to stop in time, triggering a secondary collision. The accident happened at 14:30.

“By the time I came to a stop, the second part of the accident had already happened, so I don’t know what happened after the first impact,” he said.

The crash resulted in the death of a female passenger from the Suzuki. Three children, a man and an older woman were transported to hospital. Emergency services temporarily closed the fast lanes on both sides of the highway while treating the injured.

• Due to the graphic nature of the dashcam footage, we can not publish it.