Five people died when the BMW they were travelling in caught fire after an accident on the Soutpans road near the Bon Accord Dam, paramedics said.

Best Care Ambulance Services spokesman Xander Loubser said the accident happened on Saturday around 12:00.

“A BMW had collided head-on with a truck. It is believed five people were trapped in the BMW which caught fire. All five people were declared dead on the scene while the driver of the truck was transported to a nearby hospital for injuries he sustained on his leg.”

According to Loubser a minibus which swerved out to avoid colliding with the truck and BMW landed up in a ditch next to the road.

“A total of 8 passengers of the minibus was treated on the scene before they were transported by various ambulances to nearby hospitals.”

Loubser said the exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events will remain the subject of a police investigation.