A truck driver Nesbert Goregena (52), died yesterday after he failed to stop at a stop-and-go and crashed into the back of a stationary coal truck on the R23-Volksrust Road.
A taxi trailing behind these trucks also did not manage to stop in time and drove into the back of the deceased’s truck.
The Standerton Advertiser spoke to the taxi driver who aired his frustration with the stop-and-go operator, who he alleged changed the green light to red too soon.
According to the driver of the coal truck, who was uninjured, he managed to stop in time, but both the deceased and taxi driver behind him, did not.
There were skid marks behind the second truck which the taxi driver pointed out to show he tried to avoid colliding with the truck.
Two passengers travelling with the deceased sustained injuries and were clearly in shock as they sat on the ground next to the truck covered up with blankets.
The driver of the coal truck said the mist contributed to the accident.
The Standerton Advertiser who were among the first on the scene contacted Mr Jannie Kasselman, owner of Kasselman Security Services and Ms Nadia Smith, vice-chairman of AfriForum Standerton, to dispatch police, ambulance services and members of AfriForum to the scene to assist.
The driver of the coal truck in the meantime, fetched a pipe to pry open the other truck driver’s door.
He tried to feel whether the man still had a pulse, but said to bystanders that his pulse was fading and eventually said he did not feel a pulse anymore and that the man was presumably dead.
Vehicles were at this point still passing through the stop-and-go, some at high speed, oblivious to the accident.
Bystanders were also careless and stood in the lane of oncoming traffic.
Members of a towing company and a truck company were next to arrive on the scene followed shortly by AfriForum, Police, ambulances and then the fire department.
Paramedics attended to the two passengers of the truck while police questioned people on the scene.
The Standerton Advertiser left after the passengers were transported to hospital.
The truck driver who was believed by onlookers to be dead at that stage, was however still trapped.
According to Ms Smith, she arrived at the scene after 8am- (keep in mind the accident happened around 5am-6am).
“The driver was still alive and removed between 8.30am-8.45am,” she said.
“Medical personnel began working on him for about an hour and half where after he succumbed to his injuries.”
Another truck that tried to pass the scene on the side, lost its load.
The load capsized onto a vehicle, belonging to the Local Crime Record Centre, that was parked next to the road.
No one was injured in this incident.
The R23 has seen several accidents the past few months, regardless of the traffic signs.
A case of reckless and negligent driving was opened.
Read the complete article in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser as more questions will be asked to role players who attended the scene.
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