Traffic was brought to a standstill this morning, January 15, after a serious collision between a minibus taxi and a bakkie on the N1 North off-ramp at Gordon Road.

Information gathered at the scene indicates that the bakkie was waiting at a red traffic light to turn into Gordon Road when the minibus taxi, travelling at speed, slammed into it from behind.

The minibus taxi sustained extensive damage and came to rest on the pavement next to Gordon Road, while the bakkie was flung into the middle of the roadway.

Several people were seriously injured, and emergency responders had to free several passengers trapped in the wreckage of the minibus taxi.

When the Roodepoort Record arrived at the scene, paramedics had just freed the last entrapped passenger and were working to stabilise him before loading him into an ambulance.

Two uninjured passengers, who were travelling in the taxi and wished to remain anonymous, told the Record that the vehicle had been travelling at high speed on the off-ramp and failed to stop at the red traffic light.

“I don’t know if the brakes failed or if the driver was not paying attention, but he just ploughed straight into the other vehicle.”

The Record has approached JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla for comment. Further information will be added once received.