A collision between a bakkie and a light motor vehicle on the R57 in Vanderbijlpark left a man dead and a baby in a critical condition.
Shortly after 3pm this afternoon paramedics from ER24 responded to the R57 between the R59 and the Vaalpark bridge where they found the bakkie and light motor vehicle with severe damage. On further assessment they found a baby believed to be six months old still in his car seat near the bakkie. Bystanders explained that shortly after the collision they pulled open the passenger door and took the car seat with the baby out of the vehicle.
Paramedics from ER24 assessed the baby and found that he was in a critical condition. It is believed that he sustained possible head injuries during the collision. While paramedics were stabilising the baby, they activated the ER24 Medical Helicopter to airlift the baby to a Johannesburg Hospital.
The driver of the bakkie, believed to be in his 30’s, was found behind the steering wheel of the vehicle showing no signs of life. Unfortunately there was nothing that paramedics could do for the man and he was declared dead on the scene.
The driver of the light motor vehicle was assessed on scene and later transported to a nearby hospital by another medical service. It is understood that he was the only occupant in the vehicle.
The exact cause of the collision is not yet known. Bystanders explained that one of the vehicles suddenly crashed through the grass island before crashing into the other. The incident was handed over to the local authorities for further investigation.
