Three motorists have died and four others hospitalised after a multiple vehicle pileup on the N3 north at the R550 Interchange between Heidelberg and Vosloorus.
Six articulating trucks, and 11 light motor vehicles were involved in a pileup and subsequently, three of the articulating trucks, two pick-up trucks and three sedans, caught alight.
Two occupants in one of the pick-up trucks and one occupant from an articulating truck were trapped and burned inside their vehicles.
Rescue teams from both Heidelberg and Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) collectively battled the blaze and used specialised rescue tools to recover the deceased from the wrecks.
Both directions of the freeway were closed to traffic for the duration of the rescue operations. The traffic was diverted onto the R103 (Old Heidelberg Road) as an alternative.
The preliminary reports revealed that smoke from the grass fire that was blowing across the freeway and obscuring the vision of the road users led to this pileup.
SAPS officials from the Accident Unit are investigating the incident.
*Issued by Nqobile Brian Mchunu, senior media officer for the City of Ekurhuleni.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
