Tshwane Easter stats: Fewer road crashes, more fatalities
Tshwane Emergency Services’s Charles Mabaso said there were 12 crashes compared to last year’s 32, but 13 lives were lost compared to last year’s three.
It was a deadly Easter weekend on Pretoria’s roads despite there being fewer accidents compared to last year.
“Statistics of incidents reported to the Tshwane emergency services (EMS) during the Passover/Easter period indicate that in 2024, fewer incidents were reported, but more fatalities than those recorded in 2023.” said EMS spokesperson, deputy chief Charles Mabaso.
EMS recorded 12 motor vehicle accidents and three pedestrian accidents between March 29 and April 1, compared to 32 and seven respectively between April 6 and April 10 last year.
The number of fatalities were much higher – 13 this year compared to three in 2023.
“In an incident on the R55 and Lochner Road in Raslouw near Centurion at 00:38 on March 29, three motorists lost their lives while another three sustained injuries ranging from critical to severe when two vehicles collided.”
Mabaso said when the EMS arrived on the scene, a private ambulance service had already taken two accident victims to Kalafong Hospital.
Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to free the motorists trapped in a vehicle.
A bakkie overturned on the N14 before the R55 at 20:20, also on Friday, March 29. The incident claimed three lives, including those of a one-year-old, a six-year-old and a young adult, while three patients were transported to hospital with injuries ranging from critical to severe.
Another bakkie overturned on Brits Road near the Straightfontein Butchery north of Pretoria at approximately 02:00 on Saturday, March 30.
“EMS arrived on the scene to find the two critically injured motorists still trapped inside the wreckage and also had to use the Jaws of Life to free the critically injured patients.”
Four teenage boys died when their driver lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a wall on Thabo Sehume Street, between Nelson Mandela Drive and Steve Biko Street in the Pretoria city centre around 04:30 on March 30.
The teens were declared dead on the scene.
The owner of the vehicle arrived on the scene around 06:00 after being notified of the accident by the vehicle tracking company.
A motor vehicle accident occurred on the N1 between the Murray Hill and Walmansthal interchanges at approximately 08:20 on Sunday, March 31.
“A patient was declared dead on the scene and seven suffered multiple injuries, while one was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition,” said Mabaso.
A crash involving three cars occurred on the N1 South before Olifantsfontein Road, also on March 31 at 17:50.
“Two patients were declared dead on the scene, while three sustained minor injuries and two moderate to severe injuries.”
Mabaso said a house fire also claimed a life in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The incident occurred near the Eersterust police station in Eersterust, east of Pretoria, at 03:21 on March 31.”
Three people were taken to Steve Biko Hospital in a critical condition, while three children aged between one and nine years old were taken into the custody of the police.
Mabaso said firefighters extinguished the fire but the house had suffered extensive damage.
He said the cause of all incidents would be investigated by authorities.
ALSO READ: Metro police flood streets for Easter weekend safety
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