One killed, four injured in head-on crash involving taxi in KZN

One person has been killed and four others injured after a taxi collided head-on with a light motor vehicle in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The accident happened on Mthoko Mkhize Drive in Hammersdale, West of Durban in KZN, just before 05:30am on Tuesday.  

Accident

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said multiple ambulances responded to the scene “to find carnage”.

“A taxi and a light motor vehicle had collided head-on. A quick triage was done on the scene, and Paramedics found that one person was severely entrapped in the wreckage and had sustained fatal injuries.

“Unfortunately, there was nothing paramedics could do for him, and he was declared deceased on the scene. Four other occupants from both vehicles had sustained various injuries, and once stabilised on the scene, they were transported to various Pietermaritzburg Hospitals for the further care that they required,” Jamieson said.

ALSO READ: RTMC team deployed to probe deadly Eastern Cape crash

Jamieson added that the events leading up to the crash are unknown. However, police were on the scene for further investigations.

Eastern Cape crash

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport is calling on families whose relatives may have been travelling from Qonce to Cape Town to come forward for identification of their loved ones.  

This follows a devastating head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a bakkie on the R63 near Maqoma (Fort Beaufort) on Saturday, about 90km from Qonce, which claimed 15 lives. 

Investigations

Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the deceased have been taken to the Maqoma Government Mortuary.

“Families seeking to confirm whether their loved ones were involved are urged to contact  Captain Fete (Saps Maqoma)– 082 090 2742 

“Authorities are working to expedite the identification process and provide support to affected families.  Our deepest condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy,” Binqose said.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has deployed a team of investigators to probe the cause of an accident that claimed the lives of 15 people.

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