The truck driver, who allegedly lost control and crashed into more than 45 vehicles on the M41 (eastbound) in uMhlanga yesterday morning, has handed himself over to police.

Durban North SAPS spokesperson Captain Raymond Deokaran confirmed the driver arrived at the station at 22:00 last night, to hand himself into custody.

“The 23-year-old driver will be charged with reckless and negligent driving and the failure to ascertain the nature and extent of any injury sustained by any person. He will be detained at the Durban North Police Station and is due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Road Freight Association has called for authorities to take urgent action against non-compliant road users.

A total of 16 people were injured in the accident, and one of those injured, a woman who is four-months pregnant, had to be airlifted to hospital.

“The Road Freight Association calls on the relevant local authority to initiate the post-crash investigation as a matter of urgency and to determine what caused the crash. Transporters – or any road user for that matter – who choose to be non-compliant, eg, unroadworthy/dangerous vehicles and/or badly skilled drivers, need to be held liable and culpable. They also need to be removed from the road. In addition, the road where the crash occurred was congested for a while – but also damaged. South Africa cannot afford this,” the association said in a statement.