A horrific head-on crash between a truck and a car transporting schoolchildren on the N2 near Mandeni, claimed the lives of three high schoolboys and five adults, including the driver early this morning.

IPSS Medical Rescue’s Samantha Meyrick said the truck driver sustained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital.

According to the department of transport, the driver of a 7-seater vehicle lost control, causing the car to swerve into the opposite lane.

It collided with a truck, veering off the road and overturning.

The highway between bridges 18 and 19 had to be closed in both directions and is expected to be opened soon.

Watch: Video of local residents looting the truck which was involved in the accident.

While emergency teams were working at the scene, people were seen looting the truck involved in the accident.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

• This article was amended after it was published. The headline that originally read, ‘Seven schoolboys die in horror N2 crash’, was changed to ‘Three schoolboys and five adults die in horror N2 crash’. Similarly, the article was corrected to reflect this change. The North Coast Courier apologises for any confusion caused.

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