LIMPOPO – A collision between a minibus taxi and a sedan along the N1 north, has left one person dead and 18 other people injured. The incident happened at around 21:00 approximately 30km outside of Polokwane and according to Russel Meiring, Communication officer for ER24 three people, including the deceased, were trapped in the wreckage.
Meiring said ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene at around 21:30 two find three people trapped inside the taxi while several others were found lying outside the vehicles. “Rescue services personnel had to use specialised tools to free the entrapped patients from the vehicle. Once released, medics assessed the patients and found one person had already succumbed to their numerous injuries.”
Meiring added that three others, including the two patients who were entrapped in the vehicle, were in a critical condition and were provided with advanced life support interventions. “At least fifteen other people sustained minor to moderate injuries and all were treated and transported to nearby hospitals for further care.”
The details surrounding this incident are not yet known. The exact cause of the incident will form part of a police investigation.
Meanwhile a fatal crash along the D3715 road near Madombidzha outside Louis Trichardt on Sunday morning, claimed the lives of four people. The incident involved a van and a sedan and both drivers were certified dead on the scene. “Three passengers were seriously injured and were transported to a local hospital where two succumbed to their injuries upon their arrival,” said Mike Maringa, Media Liaison Officer for the Department of Transport.
On Saturday, in the Sekhukhune district, eight people died after a taxi rolled along the R521 road. “Six people died on the scene and eight others were transported to the Helene Franz Hospital for further medical care. Two patients succumbed to their injuries upon arrival at the hospital,” Maringa said.
The recent increase in road fatalities has been attributed to speeding, reckless and drunk driving and Transport and Community Safety MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya once again calls on road users to reduce their speed and to adhere to the rules of the road.
Limpopo has been declared a zero tolerance zone against any road user who does not obey the rules of the road.
