Three people died and at least 40 people were injured in various road accidents in Randfontein and its surrounding areas this festive season.
On Friday, 6 December, two vehicles collided on the R28 in Westonaria, leaving one person fatally injured and another with serious injuries.
Then shortly after 4am the next day (Saturday, 7 December) a 19-year-old woman crashed her vehicle through a fence and into a house on Korhaan Street, Randfontein. According to Werner Vermaak, ER24 spokesperson, they found the woman still inside the vehicle. She had sustained moderate injuries and was treated on the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital for further care.
At approximately 6am that same day, a vehicle overturned several times along the N12 in Westonaria.
“Five people sustained minor to moderate injuries. They were assessed and treated on the scene and later transported to a nearby hospital. The exact circumstances surrounding these collisions are not yet known. Local authorities attended the scenes,” Vermaak added.
Three days later on Tuesday, 10 December, one person sustained fatal injuries and two others were injured following a two-vehicle collision on the R28 in Westonaria.
Ineke van Huyssteen, ER24 spokesperson said when ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene, they found the fire department already in attendance. Upon further assessment they found a bakkie lying on its side and two occupants entrapped. The fire department had to extricate them using the Jaws of Life. Unfortunately one of the occupants showed no signs of life and was declared dead at the scene. The other occupant sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital by medical helicopter for further medical care.One person from the second vehicle sustained moderate injuries and was transported to hospital by another medical service at the scene.”
Six people were also left injured after a six-vehicle collision at the R501 and Annan Road intersection in Carletonville the following day (Wednesday, 11 December).
According Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesperson, they found five vehicles including a truck on the side of the road and a light motor vehicle in the road.
“On closer inspection, medics found several people walking around on the scene while one patient was found lying trapped inside his vehicle. Fire services had to use specialised tools to free the patient. Once freed, medics assessed the patients and found that all six patients had sustained minor to serious injuries,” Meiring said.
On Monday, 16 December, six people were left injured, two of them critically, following a single-vehicle rollover on the R556 in Randfontein. According to Meiring a light motor vehicle was found upright on the side of the road. Several people were found lying around the scene.
“Medics assessed the patients and found that a four-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl had both sustained numerous injuries and were in a critical condition. Four other patients were found with minor to critical injuries,” Meiring said.
He added the patients were treated for their injuries and the critically injured were provided with advanced life support interventions.
“Once treated, the four-year-old was airlifted by a private medical helicopter to a nearby hospital and the remaining patients were transported by ambulance. One person from the light motor vehicle fortunately escaped injury.”
On Wednesday, 18 December, 19 people were injured when a taxi rolled in Wedela. Meiring said they found the wrecked taxi lying on its side on the side of the road.
“The passengers had already climbed out of the vehicle and were walking around the scene. Medics assessed the patients and found that 19 people had sustained minor to moderate injuries. Fortunately, no serious injuries or fatalities were found on the scene. The patients were treated for their injuries and were thereafter transported to various hospitals in the area for further treatment,” Meiring said.
Two days later, on Friday, 20 December, a man believed to be 57 years old sustained fatal injuries in a pedestrian accident on the N12 in Westonaria. Van Huyssteen said they arrived on scene and found the man lying in the middle of the road.
Unfortunately, the man showed no signs of life and was declared dead by paramedics. The driver of the vehicle sustained no injuries. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident were not known to our paramedics, but police were on the scene for further investigations,” she said.
The same day, five people were left injured following a bakkie rollover on the N12 near Fochville on the far West Rand. Meiring said the bakkie was found upright on the side of the road.
On Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December), four people were left injured in a single-vehicle rollover on the N12.
“A mother, her two-year-old boy, as well as another woman had all sustained moderate injuries. The patients were treated for their injuries and the critically injured man was provided with advanced life support interventions before they were transported to nearby hospitals for further care,” he said.
