“Road carnage in Tongaat sets the tone for festive season,” say emergency services

Two accidents on the Watson Highway into Tongaat last night had emergency services scrambling during light rain and peak traffic conditions while traffic backed up for kilometres in either direction.

Paramedics responded to an accident where an Isuzu bakkie loaded with sacks of fresh produce and people lost control, spinning into an oncoming Toyota Hilux.

The driver of the Hilux, Abraham Xulu of KwaMashu, was unscathed but described vividly the events leading up to the crash.

“I tried to put my van into the grass to avoid the bakkie, but I also felt my wheels skidding on the wet road.

“The bakkie actually flew over the side of my van.”

IPSS Medical Rescue paramedic Gareth Buckenham confirmed there were no serious injuries.

They took two people to Victoria Mediclinic for further attention.

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Tongaat Fire Department fire chief Reggie Moodley was on scene to clear the road with his team and highlighted the dangers of wet weather driving.

“People are not slowing down in the wet and this is what we expect for the rest of the season,” Moodley said.

Not thirty minutes later a call was received by the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) about a multiple car pile up one kilometre further up the road.

Another Isuzu bakkie and a small hatchback had crashed into a few other vehicles, leaving two people with minor injuries and lacerations.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and took one patient to hospital.

CERT ‘s Riza Mohamed said that one accident after another is typical of the festive season, and attributes the increase in number of accidents to driver concentration.

“Cellphones are a major cause of the accidents we see which are very avoidable if people pay attention, slow down and drive carefully,” said Mohamed.

The public are urged to pay attention to the road and slow down in wet weather especially, and anticipate potential traffic conditions to avoid unnecessary accidents.

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