Six people were killed when a 22-wheeler truck ploughed through a road construction site on the R26 outside of Ladybrand in the Free State on Thursday.
According to Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesperson, “Paramedics and local emergency services arrived on the scene and found the construction workers scattered across the scene. The large truck was found on the side of the road with its load of bricks also scattered across the scene.
“Five men, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, were found with fatal injuries. Unfortunately there was nothing that paramedics could do for them and they were declared dead on the scene.
“It appears that some of the workers were dragged for several meters by the truck before it veered to the side of the road. Two people were found with various injuries. One of them was in a critical condition and rushed off to a nearby hospital by the local emergency services. Sadly the man succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival at hospital. The other man is in a serious, but stable condition in hospital.”
According to bystanders on the scene, the truck ploughed through the road signs into the construction area. A second truck managed to stop before also crashing into the scene.
Local law enforcement and forensic investigators attended the scene to determine the exact cause of the incident. Members of the construction company, not injured in the incident, were clearly shocked about what had happened.
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