The death toll from the horrific head-on collision between a sugar truck and a light motor vehicle on the N2 on Saturday morning has risen to five.

The crash, which occurred between Amatigulu and Dokodweni, claimed five lives after emergency personnel revised the scene, The Witness reports.

However, according to MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, the truck driver remains missing.

“It is not clear whether he is under the truck or if he fled the scene. Our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and investigators from the South African Police Service’s Accident Unit are currently reconstructing the accident,” said Duma.

He said that based on initial reports from RTI, the truck slammed into a light motor vehicle and pushed it to the side of the road. The truck then overturned and crushed the light motor vehicle into pieces.

The five victims died instantly and their bodies have been taken to the mortuary.

Duma expressed condolences to the victims’ families, who are being traced by officials from the department.

“We request family members and friends who are looking for their loved ones who were travelling to an event and did not reach their destination to contact Captain Thambo Shandu at Gingindlovu Police Station,” said Duma.

He also urged community members, who had gathered at the crash site with buckets, waiting to loot the sugar, to leave the area immediately, warning that the diesel leak from the overturned truck poses an explosion risk.

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