Two people killed, several others injured in horrific KZN accident

Two people, including a six-year-old child, have been killed and several others injured in a horrific multiple-vehicle accident in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The accident happened on the N2 northbound highway near the NPC cement factory at about 4 pm on Sunday afternoon.

‘Carnage’

ALS Paramedics Medical Services spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said they arrived on the scene to find “total carnage”.

Jamieson said paramedics stabilised some of the patients at the scene.

“Five vehicles had collided on the national highway before two vehicles lost control and overturned numerous times, ejecting their passengers, mostly children, on the busy freeway. Paramedics quickly set up a triage system and immediately called for more ambulances as well as Advanced Life Support Paramedics. 

“Approximately ten patients had sustained serious to critical injuries and were stabilised on the scene by Advanced Life Support Paramedics before being rushed through to a nearby Durban Hospital for the urgent care that they required,” Jamieson said.

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Fatalities

Jamieson added that one child, believed to be six years old, had sustained critical injuries.

“He was rushed through to hospital for the urgent care that he required. However, he went into a state of cardiac arrest, and despite the best efforts of doctors and advanced life support paramedics, he passed away at the hospital. 

“A second patient, a male believed to be in his fifties, had sustained major multiple injuries and went into a state of cardiac arrest on the scene. Paramedics worked to try and resuscitate the man; however, he passed away on the scene due to his injuries,” Jamieson said.

Investigations

Jamieson said multiple other patients were transported to various Durban Hospitals for the urgent care they required after the accident.  

“At this stage, the events leading up to the accident are unknown; however, Saps were on the scene and will be investigating further,” Jamieson said.

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