A Durban family dealing with the shock of losing four loved ones in an accident on Friday, alleges that tow truck drivers stole valuables from the scene, with one victim unable to remember the accident but clearly recalling how she was robbed.

Shaun Pillay (57), his wife Linda (52), and two of their daughters, Shadel (22) and Lucelle (18) were killed after a Tata Super Ace mini truck, driven by Shaun, crashed into a stationary horse and trailer on the N2 northbound before Spaghetti Junction.

Ozborn Manue, a relative from Westville in Chatsworth, told the Rising Sun Chatsworth that the accident occurred when the family was travelling back home and crashed into a stationary truck after enjoying birthday celebrations at Suncoast Casino.

“It was a Friday evening, and 11 members of our family had decided to go to Suncoast for a birthday dinner. Three were seated in the front and the other eight, in the bed of the vehicle.

“From what we have heard, a truck broke down and was being repaired. There were no warning lights, metro police or anything to warn motorists except for a fire extinguisher, which was knocked down by another vehicle,” says Manue.

The three occupants seated in the front, together with one of the occupants from the back died at the scene, while the remaining seven were rushed to various hospitals.

ALS Paramedics Medical Services spokesperson, Garrith Jamieson, says that when paramedics arrived at the scene, they were met with a grim sight.

“We arrived at the scene with Life Response to find total carnage. The eThekwini Fire Department utilised the Jaws of Life and other hydraulic tools to free the deceased from the wreckage. The survivors were stabilised and transported to hospital,” says Jamieson.

Manuel says they were informed of the accident after his 14-year-old nephew was approached by a concerned motorist, who stopped to assist and contacted his mother.

They rushed to the scene and assisted paramedics to help get the injured onto stretchers to be transported to hospital.

Manuel says that he was revolted by the acts of tow truck drivers, who attended the scene.

He claims they ‘swooped in like vultures’ and made off with his injured and dead family members’ personal belongings.

“While people were losing their lives, the tow truck drivers were going through our family members’ belongings, stealing their cellphones, taking their bags and so on.

“Five phones were stolen in total. My niece does not even remember the accident but remembers being robbed. Another person claims to have seen one of the tow truck drivers going to the accident-damaged vehicle and back to his vehicle, three or four times,” says Manuel in disgust.

The Pillay family leaves behind just one family member, a 35-year-old woman.

“The parents owned a tuck-shop, and even when people could not afford to pay for their bread, they would lend a helping hand, giving it to them on an account basis.

“Shadel ran the tuck-shop occasionally when her parents were not around, but also had her own nail and beauty business.

“Lucelle had just completed matric and was planning to apply to join the police force. The final wishes from the parents were to be buried in white caskets, which we honoured,” says Manuel.

The family were laid to rest at the Mobeni Heights Cemetery.