Traffic carnage claims six lives, many injuries

The Easter weekend claimed six road accident fatalities and numerous injuries with traffic officials, SAPS, and paramedics kept on their toes attending to numerous collisions in and around town.

Officials said the majority of these collisions were a direct result of reckless driving and an influx of motorists travelling between Newcastle and Volksrust.

One of the first collisions attended to was on the N11 near the Balengiech turnoff on Saturday evening (March 30).

Chantelle Botha of Kwazulu Private Ambulance Services said when paramedics services arrived, they found that a truck and bakkie had collided, after which the truck burst into flames.

“After assessing the scene, paramedics found that five patients had sustained critical injuries and two patients had sustained serious injuries.

Using specialized rescue equipment with the assistance of the Amajuba Fire Department, the trapped patients were extricated from the bakkie.

“The patients were treated on scene before being transported to hospital for further treatment. Sadly, one patient later died before emergency services could arrive,” she said.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (March 31), KZN Private Ambulance Services responded to Drakensberg Road after receiving reports of another collision.

Botha said when emergency services arrived, they found that a vehicle had lost control and collided with a tree.

One man suffered serious injuries and was treated on the scene before being transported to the hospital for further treatment.

The Easter weekend ended chaotically with hundreds of motorists using the N11 to make their way back to Gauteng.

This resulted in countless collisions on the Newcastle/Volksrust route with many motorists simply disobeying the road safety rules, traffic officials said.

Motorists had formed four lanes while travelling into oncoming traffic while illegally overtaking, causing hazardous driving conditions.

Charles Steyn of Magenta Medical Services gave a breakdown of the day’s collisions:

One of the first collisions was reported at around 13:15 after an SUV collided with a tractor, leaving an adult female and two children slightly injured.

Thereafter, they responded to Geelhoud Road in Arbor Park after a vehicle collided with a tree at around 15:16, leaving three people injured.

Later, paramedics returned to the N11 after a bakkie had lost control and veered off the road, leaving one person slightly injured.

Paramedics were then called to the R34 after two vehicles collided. Fortunately, no one sustained injuries.

A later collision on the R23 near Perdekop claimed the lives of four people, while one person died in a crash in Osizweni.

The exact cause of these collisions will remain subjective to further police investigations.

The Newcastle Advertiser wishes to extend its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

See photos here:

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