LIMPOPO – The number of fatalities on provincial roads continue to increase.

The Transport Department is yet to provide the exact number of fatalities since the start of the festive season, but four more people were killed in the early hours of Christmas Day.

Read more: R578 claims six lives in less than 24 hours

“The first accident was reported on the R523 in the Vhembe district. It is alleged that a driver of a bakkie was overtaking on a stop sign and collided head-on and side-swipe with a minibus taxi and a sedan,” reads a statement by media liaison officer Mike Maringa.

He said the driver of the bakkie and a male passenger were killed on impact.

“Reckless and negligent driving has been cited as a possible cause of the accident,” he explained.

Two more people were killed in a separate incident, also reported early this morning.

“The accident occurred on the N1 when the car they were traveling in had a tyre burst in the Waterberg district. It is reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned. Two people were confirmed dead on the scene,” he added.

Also read: [LISTEN] N1 multi-vehicle collision: 5 confirmed dead

Limpopo Transport MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya is concerned about the number of accidents caused by unroadworthy vehicles. She plead with motorists to check the condition of their vehicles, and lashed on reckless drivers who kill innocent people on the roads.

“We woke up this morning to another accident caused allegedly by a tyre burst, killing two people. We cannot continue counting numbers of fatalities, we want people to act responsibly. In another accident, the report indicates that the driver was driving recklessly and overtaking on a stop sign. Road users need to take responsibility and work with us to reduce fatal accidents.”