N1 south open following hazardous material spill during fatal crash
The N1 highway between Nyl plaza and Polokwane was closed for 27 hours.
UPDATE
LIMPOPO – The N1 highway was closed for approximately 27 hours following an fatal collision near Planknek on Friday (December 31).
The incident involved a truck and a bakkie and left six people dead and two seriously injured. Four children were among the deceased.
According to Mike Maringa, the media liaison officer for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, the truck involved was transporting hazardous material (cobalt and asbestos mixture). When the truck overturned the material spilled onto the road and the road was closed to allow the relevant department to clean the scene.
“The N1 South between Zebediela Weighbridge and the Mokopane off-ramp is now open for traffic.”
16:52 Friday
POLOKWANE – Six people died in a head-on collision between a bakkie and a truck on Friday (December 31).
The incident happened at around 12:00 near the Zebetiela petrol station next to Planknek on the outskirts of Mokopane.
ER24, Provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Fire and Rescue services attended to the scene.
According to ER24’s Communications Officer Russel Meiring paramedics arrived on the scene at around12:15 to find a bakkie in one lane and a truck and trailer was on its roof on the side of the road. “On closer inspection, medics found that the all six occupants in the bakkie, two adults and four children, had already succumbed to their numerous injuries. They were declared dead by the Provincial EMS.”
Russel added that the two occupants in the truck were critically injured in the collision. “Both men, believed to be in their 50s, were trapped in the wreckage and members from Fire and Rescue services had to use specialised equipment to them from the vehicle.”
Once released, the men were treated and provided with advanced life support interventions before they were transported to Voortrekker Hospital for urgent care, he explained.
Mike Maringa, the media liaison officer for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, confirmed the incident.
“Emergency personnel will take several hours to clear the scene and the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane remains closed.
12:52
POLOKWANE – The N1 south is closed between Nyl plaza and Polokwane following a two vehicle collision.
The collision between a truck and a sedan occurred near Planknek outside Mokopane.
The truck has overturned blocking the highway and according to the media liaison officer for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Mike Maringa, traffic will be diverted.
“Motorists travelling northwards will be diverted to the R101 at Nyl Plaza while those travelling south must use R101 from Polokwane and join the N1 at Nyl Plaza.”
According to a post on Traffic Policing Affairs Limpopo preliminary reports indicate that six people died on the scene. “Two other reportedly sustained serious injuries,” reads the post.
This is a developing story.
