Freedom Day road accidents: At least 18 injured in separate incidents in KZN

At least 18 people have been injured in two separate incidents in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday 27 April.

In the first accident, five people have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident involving motor vehicles and trucks in the province,

Manenberg Toll Plaza: ‘Total carnage’

ALS Paramedics director Garrith Jamieson said the accident happened before the Mariannhill Toll Plaza on Thursday.

Jamieson said the cause of the accident is yet unknown.  

“On arrival paramedics found total carnage as four vehicles as well as one truck has been involved in this collision. Vehicle were scattered all along the national highway.

“Paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found that five patients had sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate. They were stabilized on scene before they were transported to nearby hospitals for further care,” Jamieson said.

Jamieson said traffic was severely affected and that police and other authorities were on scene for further investigations.

ALSO READ: Former ConCourt Justice Yvonne Mokgoro critical after car crash

At least 13 injured in taxi crash

Earlier in the day, at least 13 people were injured in a serious single taxi crash on the N3 Durban Bound before Spaghetti Junction in KwaZulu-Natal just before 10:30am on Thursday morning.

Jamieson said paramedics arrived on the scene to find “total chaos.”

“They found that a single taxi had somehow lost control and overturned multiple times coming to rest on its side. Immediately Paramedics assessed the scene and found that thirteen patients had sustained various injuries ranging from minor to serious.

 “More ambulances as well as Advanced Life Support Paramedics were dispatched to the scene and once all the injured had been stabilized they were transported to various Durban Hospital for the further treatment that they required,” Jamieson said.

Jamieson added that events leading up to the accident are unknown. However Saps were on the scene and will be investigating further.

Traffic conditions

At the start of the long weekend, the N3 Toll Concession said busy traffic conditions are currently being experienced in a southbound direction towards KwaZulu-Natal on the N3 Toll Route. 

“Road users are reminded to be patient, stay alert and to always share the road responsibly,” it said.

ALSO READ: WATCH: South Africa needs a minister of potholes