Collision at notorious hairpin curve on N1 claims three lives
Within a short space of time, curious onlookers wanting to get a glimpse of the incident looted the truck delivering chairs and plastic dishware.
LIMPOPO – Another collision on the N1, between Louis Trichardt and Musina recently claimed the lives of three people.
A truck collided with a light motor vehicle, which then collided with a minibus taxi at the notorious hairpin curve near the old Ingwe Hotel.
The truck went off the road and rolled down the embankment.
All three of the deceased were passengers in the taxi. At least 12 people sustained minor to critical injuries.
The news of the horrific accident spread like wildfire.
Within a short space of time, curious onlookers wanted to get a glimpse of the incident and the truck, delivering chairs and plastic dishware was looted.
The N1 was closed for several hours to allow the police’s forensic unit to document the scene, and for rescue and recovery workers to clear the carnage. While rescue workers were frantically trying to assist the injured passengers next to the road, traffic piled up for several kilometres in both directions. The passengers were rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Among them was the truck driver and his two assistants who escaped with minor injuries.
The driver of the taxi, Kennedy Tshatsinde, said he was heading towards Louis Trichardt at around 08:30.
“It was traumatic to know that lives had been lost and more people had been injured in the taxi that I was driving. I always pray that I never have accidents, as other people’s lives depend on me. I am very saddened that the people died in my taxi, but it was beyond my control,” said Tshatsinde.
Transport MEC Florence Radzilani sent her condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones in the accident. She was deeply troubled to learn about yet another tragic accident which, she stated, had become a too frequent occurrence on the region’s roads.
She expressed her concern over the fact that fatal accidents are reported nearly every weekend and said that something should be done as a matter of urgency to address the lawlessness on the region’s roads.
She said that most of these accidents were caused by reckless drivers and that innocent people become victims. “Our people are dying because of so many road users’ ignorance. Road users must, in light of this latest accident, realise what can happen as a result of negligent driving,” she said.
