Two pedestrians were killed and six seriously injured in an apparent hit-and-run on the N4 near Tenbosch in Mpumalanga this morning at 01:20.

The pedestrians, four men and four women, all believed to be Mozambican nationals, were walking along the N4 highway towards Komatipoort when a vehicle ploughed into them from behind, and the driver sped away.

An investigation is underway, and although the vehicle’s make and model and the driver’s identity are not yet known, the Mpumalanga community safety, security and liaison’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, says police are looking for a vehicle that lost a Lesotho number plate at the scene.

The deceased, a man and a woman, died on impact, and the six survivors were taken to Tonga Hospital for treatment.

Pedestrians make up a significant portion of the total number of deaths on the province’s roads. Mmusi thus reminds pedestrians to apply caution when walking on the roads, especially at night.

He advises pedestrians to wear bright clothes to make themselves more visible, to only cross the road when it is safe to do so, to avoid drinking and walking, and to avoid jaywalking (crossing the road by any means that is against the law).

He also advises motorists to be on the lookout for pedestrians, especially in busy areas, and urges motorists to stop at crash scenes they are involved in or at least report it to the nearest police station if, for safety reasons, they feel the need to leave.