SASOLBURG – A man has died, and two other people were hurt after a horrific crash between a car and a truck on the R59 in Vaalpark this morning.

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours when a Ford Focus travelling north collided head-on with a heavy motor vehicle travelling south.

The truck caught fire right after the crash, sending thick smoke into the air as emergency teams rushed to help.

Several law enforcement groups arrived, with local municipality traffic officers managing the traffic while police investigators searched the wreckage.

When Ster arrived at the scene, drivers had to crawl through heavy traffic as curious motorists stopped to watch the rescue operation.

Fire and rescue workers cleared the road by pushing debris off the carriageway and spreading sand on the tar, while the damaged truck continued to ooze smoke.

This crash has once again raised concerns about safety on the R59, which has suffered several serious accidents lately. Just two weeks ago, the same road saw another tragic crash, and two months ago another driver lost his life in a truck collision.

Despite attempts to obtain comment from the relevant authorities, local police had not responded by the time of publication, although they promised to issue a statement.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

This is a developing story.