As South Africans prepare for the Easter long weekend, authorities are urging motorists to exercise heightened caution after a serious multi-vehicle crash on the N3 near the Tugela Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal early on Thursday morning, 2 April 2026.
The collision, involving two trucks and a public transport bus carrying 53 passengers, left 25 people receiving treatment at Ladysmith Hospital, with one person reported to be in a critical condition.
The remaining 28 passengers escaped without injury.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, preliminary findings by the Road Traffic Inspectorate indicate that the crash occurred at about 3am when a Zimbabwean truck driver allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn on the N3 near the Tugela Toll Plaza, moving directly into the path of another truck and the bus travelling southbound. The manoeuvre resulted in a major collision.
Authorities further indicated that steel plates being transported on the turning truck came loose during the incident and struck the passenger bus, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle overturned.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma confirmed details surrounding the response and the arrest of the truck driver.
“When questioned about his illegal U-turn by a firm and no-nonsense RTI Ladysmith team, the Zimbabwean truck driver pleaded for mercy. He stated that he was on his way to look for money to pay at the Tugela Toll Plaza. He is currently under arrest,” said Duma.
Duma added that the department’s newly appointed head, Zibusiso Dlamini, is working closely with the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Operation Shanela teams as the investigation continues.
The probe, being conducted in conjunction with the South African Police Service and the Home Affairs Immigration Unit, will seek to establish whether both the driver and the vehicle owner were in possession of all required documentation.
“In particular, we want to establish whether the driver and the owner have all the necessary documents. We leave no stone unturned,” Duma said.
The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) has since confirmed that the scene has been fully cleared and that all lanes have been reopened to traffic.
Emergency services attended to the injured and removed the damaged vehicles, allowing traffic flow to resume.
In a statement, N3TC said;
“N3TC appreciates the support of their partners in the Road Incident Management System (RIMS) who assisted with medical attention, cleanup and recovery operations at the scene, with minimal disruption to traffic flow.”
The crash near the Tugela Toll Plaza is a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving on one of the country’s busiest transport routes, particularly during a peak travel period.
With 53 people involved and 25 hospitalised, the incident again highlights the human cost of traffic violations and the pressure placed on emergency responders.
As investigations continue, motorists are being urged to remain vigilant, obey the rules of the road and exercise patience during the Easter holiday travel period.
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