Heritage weekend: Two dead after minibus catches fire outside Polokwane
This incident brings the number of road fatalities on provincial roads since Thursday to eleven.
LIMPOPO – A total of eleven people died on provincial roads between Thursday (September 23) and Sunday (September 26). Speeding and reckless driving were cited as the possible cause of the majority of these incidents.
Spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Matome Moremi-Tauetsoala says the latest incident was reported along the old Seshego road just outside Polokwane at around 21:00 on Sunday. “It is reported that two people died after the vehicle they were traveling in overturned and caught fire. Several other occupants sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.”
Meanwhile a head-on collision along the R518 road near Masodi village claimed the lives of two people. “It is alleged the driver of the one vehicle attempted to overtake and collided head-on with the second vehicle. The driver and a passenger was killed on impact.”
Accident breakdown for Saturday (September 25)
Moremi-Taueatsoala said a further five accidents and seven road fatalities were reported on Saturday. This brings the total of road accidents since Thursday to 12. This is fewer accidents and fatalities than were recorded during the same period last year.
“Most accidents were caused by reckless and negligent driving with drivers overtaking on barrier lines.”
Read more: Two people dead in car crash near Polokwane
Accident breakdown Thursday – Friday
The period of September 23 to September 24 saw seven accidents reported in the province of which there were two fatal.
“Both fatal incidents happened along the N1 outside of Polokwane on Thursday; the first was near the N1 bypass and Landdros Maré Street junction while the second happened along the N1 bypass adjacent to Flora Park.”
Read more: Male driver dies in N1 north collision outside Polokwane
A serious head-on accident was also reported along the R573 road near H62 Vaalbos Trust on Friday at around 22:00. The incident involved a sedan and a station wagon. Two people died while another six occupants sustained light injuries.
Moremi-Taueatsoala added that even though the road fatalities are less than were reported last year during the same period, the department is concerned that some motorists continue to disregard the plea to reduce speed and to exercise patience to reduce the road carnage.
“The province was envisaging a zero fatal weekend, but 11 lives were unfortunately lost due to negligence and speeding,” he concluded.
