A devastating head-on collision claimed the lives of five people, including two young children, on Sunday night along the R66 near the Dokodweni Bridge.

The collision between a light motor vehicle and a bakkie resulted in an additional seven seriously injured patients.

Among the deceased were a family of four – a mother, father, their three-year-old child and a two-month-old baby – and a fifth passenger who were travelling from Nongoma to Durban when their vehicle, a Hyundai i10, was involved in the accident.

Three children travelling in the Hyundai i10 survived the crash with serious injuries.

IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick confirmed that the occupants of the bakkie were all seriously injured, including two adults and two children.

“Advanced life support paramedics stabilised the critically injured before transporting them to nearby medical facilities for further treatment. Emergency services worked tirelessly to manage the scene,” said Meyrick.

She extended thanks to the Umlalazi and Mandeni Fire Departments, additional ambulance services and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) in Gingindlovu for their coordinated efforts during the rescue operation.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

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