UPDATE: Death toll of R40 accident rises

The death toll in the R40 crash between two minibus taxis outside Mbombela has risen to four people.

The collision occurred in Riverside near the intersection of the Mafunyane Water Park at about 06:00 on Thursday August 31.

A statement by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, said that two passengers, one from each of the taxis, were declared dead on the scene.

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He said another two passengers died while being treated at local hospitals. Several others sustained injuries, varying from slight to serious.

One of the passengers who died on the scene had been just a few metres from her place of work when the crash occurred. The workplace and her identity cannot yet be revealed, as not all of her next of kin have been informed of her death.

The deceased’s manager said she was due to start work at 06:00.

“We heard there was an accident just up the road. At about 06:10, we heard from paramedics that she had been in the crash. They had identified her by her uniform,” said the manager.

“We asked one of her colleagues to walk up to the scene. We didn’t know at that stage she had died. We thought she might be injured and could give her colleague her belongings so she did not have to worry about them.

“After a few minutes, the colleague called us and said she was dead. Everyone is devastated.”

He said she had been working at the company for about a year and was known for her bubbly and friendly personality.

Colleagues said she was always dancing and making people smile and laugh.

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“Everyone here is quite close-knit, so we are all taking the news quite badly,” he said.

Mmusi said the cause of the crash remains unclear at this point. “However, reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out. The investigation into the crash has already commenced,” he said.

Update @ 10:00 

R40 ACCIDENT UPDATE : The number of people who died in this morning’s crash on R40 in Mbombela has now risen to three. The third victim succumbed to injuries while being attended to at the hospital. The other two victims died at the scene.

Update @ 08:00 – Crash involving two taxis claims two lives on R40 

Two fatalities and multiple injuries were reported following an accident in Riverside this morning, August 31.

The collision involved two minibus taxis on the R40 near BMW. The intersection at Mafunyane Water Park is currently closed. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to pass by the area.

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According to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the injuries vary from minor to serious.

“The deceased include one passenger from each minibus taxi. The victims died at the scene,” a statement by the department said.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in Mbombela for medical attention.

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Emergency personnel and law enforcement are on the scene.

The department said the cause of the crash remains unclear at this point, but that reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out.

The investigation into the crash has already commenced.