Five killed in horrific crash along R34

A horror crash on the R34 road in the Nseka area on Sunday evening tragically claimed five lives.
The accident saw a bakkie and a car colliding head-on near Klipfontein Dam. The bakkie that was involved in the crash is a state vehicle belonging to the Department of Health. It is believed that the driver was the only occupant and was travelling from Ulundi.

It is alleged that the car, with five occupants, was in the process of overtaking another vehicle when it collided with the oncoming Department of Health bakkie. The five people in the car were trapped in the wreckage and sadly died at the scene. The driver of the bakkie sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Mortuary services responded and removed the bodies.

Kwazulu Private Ambulance Services also responded to the scene and have since issued a statement that reads: ‘’When emergency services arrived, they found that one patient had sustained serious injuries. The patient was treated on scene before being transported to hospital for further treatment. Sadly, five occupants from the car sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to their injuries before emergency services arrived.’’

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport have called for extra vigilance on the road after recording 11 fatalities in two separate crashes over the weekend. The department has expressed disappointment at drivers’ behaviour. The first incident occurred in Vryheid, where five people succumbed to their injuries and died at the scene. The second crash happened on the N3 in Cliffdale, between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, where 10 occupants (including a child) were involved in a gruesome accident. Here too, five patients died on scene. Another person died on the way to hospital. Others were taken to hospital for medical attention.

Commenting in the wake of the weekend’s deadly accidents, Transport Department head Sboniso Mbhele condemned the behaviour of motorists and appealed to them to abide by the rule of law. ‘’We are deeply saddened by the loss of so many people in one weekend. 11 lives is not a small number and such major crashes are heartbreaking. We have commissioned investigators to both accidents and we believe that where action needs to be taken, such will be taken without hesitation. The cost of these accidents to the economy is huge.” Mbhele concluded by extending condolences to all the affected families who lost loved ones on the road, and wishing a speedy recovery to those in hospital.

Social media users also expressed their condolences to all the families and friends who lost their loved ones due to crashes over the weekend.

ALSO READ:More than 11 killed on KZN roads

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