Two seperate incidents on the N11 between Newcastle and Ladysmith has left nearly twenty people injured and four dead.
Emergency services responded to a serious collision near Waterside Wimpy just outside Newcastle on Monday afternoon. There were mass injuries including entrapments after a bakkie and a taxi collided.
The taxi driver and a 7 month pregnant women were trapped in the taxi for almost an hour.
Approximately 13 other people were also injured.
Multiple emergency response teams were on scene to assist the patients.
“The pregnant mother was lucky to escape without serious injury,” said Debbie Caine from Mercy Care. “Both baby and mother are doing just fine.”
Another collision occurred approximately 10 kilometers outside of Ladysmith.
Sadly, four men were killed when two bakkies collided.
Three other patients, one of them critically injured, were also treated on scene.
“The patients have been rushed to hospital in Ladysmith for continued care,” said Robert Mckenzie, Media Liaison Officer for Emergency Medical Services KwaZulu-Natal.
The exact cause of both collisions is unclear at this stage. However, it is belived wet driving conditions have attributed to the incidents.
Read our tips on how to drive safely in wet conditions.