A head-on collision along the R69, Hlobane Road, near Vryheid on Thursday morning, 14 May 2026, resulted in two people sustaining critical injuries, including a seven-year-old girl.
Craig Botha of KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance said the crash, which led to the road being closed for more than an hour, occurred at approximately 07:00 am and involved two minibus taxis.
Get ahead of the game. Know your customers. Book your business survey today. Email: [email protected]
One of the taxis was carrying children to school, while the second vehicle was occupied only by the driver.
After receiving the call for assistance, Botha said;
“Upon arrival, paramedics were met with a scene of absolute carnage. Debris from the collision was scattered across both lanes, and the mangled wreckage of the vehicles required immediate and complex intervention.”
This, he explained, saw the paramedics initiate a rapid triage process to manage the high volume of casualties. According to Botha, the assessment revealed a total of 24 patients.
“Two individuals sustained life-threatening, critical head and chest injuries. Among them was a seven-year-old girl who required advanced life support intervention. The second critically injured patient, a male in his 40s, was found trapped within the twisted metal of the taxi. Members of the Fire Department utilised specialised hydraulic rescue equipment to perform a delicate extrication,” elaborated Botha.
Image submitted
In addition to the critical patients, Botha pointed out that three others sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures and suspected spinal trauma.
“A further 19 patients, primarily school-aged children, suffered various minor injuries. All patients were stabilized at the scene before being strategically distributed to various local hospitals for specialised medical care,” reported Botha.
Compounding this, Botha added that the South African Police Service (SAPS), Fire Department, and Traffic Department were out in full force to manage significant crowd control challenges and conduct traffic diversions.
“The R69 remained completely obstructed for approximately 90 minutes to allow for rescue operations and forensic evidence collection. The roadway was officially declared clear and reopened to traffic at 08:30 am,” concluded Botha, adding that the exact cause of the collision is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.
With the scene cleared and all emergency operations concluded, the matter now rests with the relevant authorities, who are tasked with determining how the collision occurred. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work through the available evidence and formal accounts to establish a clear sequence of events.
Newcastillian News invites your input. We ask that you keep your remarks courteous and on-topic. We do not allow any form of hate speech, such as racist or sexist comments. All comments are subject to moderation in line with our User Rules and Commenting Policy.
