Avatar photo

By Cornelia Le Roux

Digital Deputy News Editor


WATCH: Smell of petrol and panic – Inside former Miss SA Cindy Nell-Roberts’ horror truck ordeal

The former Miss SA briefly lost consciousness when an out-of-control truck smashed into her vehicle and several others on Kloof Nek Road.


The chaos which unfolded along a busy Kloof Nek Road on Tuesday morning when a 24-wheeler truck spun out of control and smashed into five vehicles, has been described by eyewitnesses as “horrific” and “like a scene from a movie”.

Former Miss SA, TV presenter and businesswoman Cindy Nell-Roberts was one of six people who miraculously sustained only minor injuries as the massive truck swept down the Cape Town CBD road like a tsunami, leaving a trail of frozen crayfish and destruction in its wake.

Kloof Nek horror: Out-of-control truck ploughs into vehicles

The truck veered out of control after losing some of its load of seafood. It ploughed into vehicles and an Uber delivery scooter, and jack-knifed before overturning and coming to a stop next to Glatal Court apartment block.

The truck driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries after he was stuck below the engine and had to be freed with a circular saw.

WATCH: Truck rolls down Kloof Nek Road

Ex-Miss SA Cindy Nell-Roberts: Narrow escape after truck crash

According to Nell-Roberts’s personal assistant, the former beauty queen was on her way in her Range Rover to the Media24 building in Roggebaai to film a programme when the accident took place at about 11am.

“She hit her head against the windscreen and the airbags deployed on impact. Cindy can’t remember exactly what happened, but said it felt as if her car was dragged along the road by the truck.

“It appears she briefly lost consciousness, but was brought to her senses by the strong smell of petrol. She panicked and was luckily able to escape through her passenger door”.

Netwerk24 reported Nell-Roberts’s husband, Clive Roberts, was contacted by a bystander whose child attends the same school as the couple’s two children.

Her husband took her to a nearby hospital where she was treated for head, neck and arm injuries.

Former Miss South Africa Cindy Nell-Roberts and her husband Clive Roberts
Former Miss South Africa Cindy Nell-Roberts and her husband Clive Roberts during the Cape Town Art Fair held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 15 February 2019. Photo: Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Esa Alexander

Nell-Roberts believes car saved her life

According to her personal assistant, the 42-year-old Cosmetix CEO and development director of Ace Models International believes her Range Rover – despite being a write-off – played a huge role in saving her life.

“The car that was hit after hers, was flung into the air and rolled.”

Kloof Nek Road speeding danger

Francine Higham, Ward 77 councillor, told CapeTalk the issue of speeding along the road in Tamboerskloof is not a new concern and need to be addressed.

“I know that there are a lot of concerns about speeding on this road. We are looking to address this and putting in interventions in the short term, such as reactivating the camera at the top of Kloof Nek Road.”

Other measures taken will include increased signage to indicate the 50km/h speed limit and installing another traffic signal.

NOW READ: Cindy Nell Roberts debunks fasting myths and how she lost weight

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.