No deaths after pile up on R544
It took just over six hours for the R544 to be cleared of debris and for seven steel plates to be picked up.
On Wednesday, April 22 at approximately 16:15 a multiple car accident happened on the R544 which brought the traffic from most of the mines and power stations to a standstill.
Mr Nicolas Mthombeni was driving a white Volvo truck transporting steel plates, that he had just collected from Highveld Steel and was on his way to Richards Bay.
As Mthombeni was travelling from eMalahleni towards Bethal, at the big four-way stop intersection, he tried to apply brakes as the stop street was approaching and there was a downhill.
“I tried to apply brakes but my brakes failed, I also tried to fight the truck but I could not,” said Mthombeni.
Mthombeni hit the back of a coal truck that was in front of him. Mthombeni’s Volvo allegedly pulled to the right which sent his truck into on-coming traffic, hitting seven vehicles.
Eventually Mthombeni came to a stop approximately 800 metres from where the first truck was hit.
One of the drivers who was involved in the accident decided to remain anonymous.
“The truck came from town and did not stop at the stop street, I was turning right at the four-way stop and the truck hit the back of my car. I sustained no injuries and I was very lucky,” said the driver.
Mr Alfred Bayana was on his way home from work when the accident happened.
“I was at the four-way stop when the truck hit the side of my car. I did not get hurt and I was very lucky,” said Bayana.
Ms Jeminah Dube was also on her way home from work and she was the third car from the stop street.
As Dube sat in traffic, she saw the truck coming in her direction and she had nowhere to go.
“I sustained bruises on my head, legs and soft tissue injuries to the rest of my body,” she said. She was taken to Witbank Provincial Hospital and was discharged on the same day.
Mr Lawrence Malapela was the fourth car at the four-way stop.
“I noticed that the truck did not stop at the stop street, and then it turned to the right and came straight towards on-coming traffic. The truck then hit my vehicle head-on. I hit another three cars with the back of my vehicle. Eventually my car came to a stop facing on-coming traffic,” said Malapela.
Malapela sustained minor injuries and was taken to eMalahleni Private Hospital for treatment.
“It was a big shock to me as I was helpless in the car as the truck pushed me,” said Malapela.
The truck that caused the accident is from a company in New Castle.
Provincial Officer explaining possible causes of the accident:
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