Horror shootings and accident leave at least 13 dead
Unofficially, the death toll could be as high as 19 for the weekend shootings and accident
When the occupants of a speeding Mercedes attempted to escape gunmen chasing in another car, the driver lost control, veering off the Colenso/Pieters road late Saturday afternoon. All five occupants of the Mercedes-Benz sustained gunshot wounds and one (a female) died instantly. A total of 38 bullet holes were found in the Mercedes.
The shooting then caused a horror crash, as a fully-loaded taxi tried to avoid the gunfire and hit a truck. The collision claimed the lives of 4 people on scene, one being a 3-year-old child. 3 people passed away in hospital on Saturday night, bringing the death toll to 7.
People were trapped in the wreckage and the jaws of life had to be used to free them. About 16 people were injured in the crash.
Sharaj and EMRS transported critically injured patients to hospital, as well as some with moderate injuries.
It is alleged that the shooting on the road preceding the taxi accident resembled a high-speed car chase right out of a Hollywood movie, with the chasing group firing indiscriminately at the fleeing occupants of the Mercedes. It is alleged that the suspects may have been driving a Toyota Avanza.
After shooting at the occupants of the Mercedes, the suspects then allegedly made their way to the Ezakheni area, where a second shooting took place at a car wash. Five people were killed in the second shooting, with one person at the car wash managing to escape.
While it is strongly believed that the two shootings and accident are linked, this has not been confirmed by police.
A number of empty R5 and 9mm cartridges were found scattered on the ground.
On Sunday morning, officials from the Department of Transport and the Mayor of Ladysmith went into Ezakheni to assess the situation.
13 people in total have been declared dead, 7 as a result of the accident and 6 in the two shootings (with possibly one more).
Unofficially, the death toll could be as high as 19 for the weekend shootings and accident, as more may have died in hospital.
MEC for Transport Willies Mchunu has assembled a team to investigate the accident and the shootings.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, was shocked and saddened to hear about the death of these people in Ezakheni and extended her condolences to the families of the deceased. “We appeal to members of the community to work with the police in solving these cases by providing information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects can contact any local police station or our Crime Stop number (08600-10111),” she said.
