Driver dies as third car plunges into river in as many weeks
A passenger was pulled to safety by firemen who responded
In the third such crash in as many weeks, a car plunged into the Amanzimtoti River at midnight on Friday night, 30 September.
Car underwater in toti river, one injured two trapped in vehicle @ECR_Newswatch @southcoastsun @NatMatters @_ArriveAlive @News24
— NETCARE 911 (@Netcare911_sa) September 30, 2016
Tragically, the driver was submerged under water in the car and died.
Toti fire department and Netcare 911 paramedics responded to a report of a collision on the N2 northbound on the Amanzimtoti River bridge. Reports indicate the vehicle veered off the N2 in wet weather and plunged down an embankment into the river. An investigation into the cause of the crash will form part of the South African Police investigation.
Paramedics found the vehicle with two people submerged under the water. Firemen dived into the water and managed to pull one man to safety but could not get to the other man. After the vehicle was pulled free from the water by a tow truck, the firemen found the driver still strapped in his seat. Tragically, he died due to the fact that he was submerged for an extensive period.
Firemen have pulled a second person from the water, tragically he died @ECR_Newswatch @southcoastsun pic.twitter.com/FBdDdPLtL4
— NETCARE 911 (@Netcare911_sa) September 30, 2016
Tow trucks pull vehicle from river in Amanzimtoti @ECR_Newswatch @southcoastsun @NatMatters pic.twitter.com/nDi5bdHg9L
— NETCARE 911 (@Netcare911_sa) September 30, 2016
The N2 bridge over the Toti River is clearly an accident hotspot, particularly in wet weather. This is the third such accident in which cars have plunged off the national road and landed in or close to the river in the last few weeks. Saturday afternoon, 17 September a woman passenger died after the vehicle she was travelling in struck the Amanzimtoti River bridge on the N2 north.
Similarly, a driver was fortunate to survive after his bakkie veered off the waterlogged N2 highway and plunged into the Amanzimtoti River several metres below on Saturday afternoon, 17 September.
Read also:
Another close call for car on Toti River N2 bridge
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