Chaos erupted on the R40 in Marite near Hazyview, Mpumalanga, today (February 12) when a brewery truck driver lost control of the vehicle, which tipped onto its side and narrowly missed crashing into an RDP house. 

The truck was transporting empty bottles from the Bushbuckridge direction towards Hazyview when the accident occurred shortly before 08:00. 

Lowvelder reports that the driver escaped with slight bruises, but was still in shock when the publication attempted to get a comment from him. “There is nothing to say. As you can see, this was an accident,” the driver said, refusing to give his name. 

The occupants of the house ran out when they heard the crash. “They were shocked to see a truck lying on its side just outside their house. It’s fortunate that the truck missed the house, otherwise this could have been disastrous,” said bystander Joseph Mondlane.

Mondlane said the driver apparently tried to swerve to miss a pothole and subsequently lost control of the truck, which crashed through a few trees before landing on its side. 

“Potholes are causing major problems for motorists along this stretch of road. It’s not the first time a truck has flipped here in Marite,” he said. 

People, some with wheelbarrows, rushed to the scene, apparently intending to loot beer, only to find that the truck was carrying empty bottles.

“If the truck had been loaded with beer, it would have been like manna from heaven, giving us beer without paying a cent,” said community member Alfred Lekhuleni. 

A tow truck was dispatched to the scene shortly afterwards. 

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