Within 24 hours, four people were injured and one individual passed away, following a series of collisions that saw emergency personnel rush against time to aid those in need.
The first accident unfolded along the N11 between Newcastle and Ladysmith on Thursday afternoon, 22 February 2024, just before Sunset Rest. The incident, occurring at around 3 pm, involved a truck and a light motor vehicle carrying three occupants.
At the time of the crash, the truck had been travelling from the direction of Newcastle towards Ladysmith, while the car was travelling from Ladysmith towards Newcastle. While the exact circumstances around the collision are unclear, Charles Steyn of Magenta Emergency Medical Services explained that it is speculated that the truck had attempted to overtake another vehicle and crashed into the car.
The light motor vehicle, belonging to an official government department, suffered significant damage upon impact.
Steyn reported that the car’s occupants sustained moderate to serious injuries, necessitating immediate attention from paramedics of ER24 and Magenta Emergency Medical Services. Both emergency medical services’ paramedics worked diligently to ensure the patients were stabilised before transporting the injured to the hospital for further treatment.
The second collision transpired on the Amajuba Pass along the N11, just before 7 am on Friday, 23 February 2024, after a truck collided with a small Nissan bakkie allegedly towing a second vehicle.
While it is unclear how the accident occurred, Steyn explained that the driver of the small Nissan bakkie was left entrapped in his vehicle, requiring the Newcastle firefighters to rush out to the scene and use the jaws of life to extract him from the vehicle. While his injuries were not severe, he was transported to hospital for further treatment.
The third incident unfolded along the R34 in Vryheid between the Engen Junction Garage and West Street on Friday morning. Frikkie Bekker of KwaZulu Private Ambulance explained that it appeared as if the motorist of a light motor vehicle lost control of his car, resulting in him hitting the trailer of a truck. Such was the impact, that the motorist died on the scene and paramedics and emergency personnel had to use the jaws of life to extract him from the wreckage.
In the wake of these distressing collisions, the community is urged to exercise utmost caution when travelling and to strictly adhere to traffic laws. The incidents serve as sobering reminders of the importance of road safety and the need for heightened awareness among motorists.
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