Truck rolls on N12 takes one life

A truck apparently drove over two vehicles on the N12 leading to the death of one of the passengers. The driver of the Opel stopped to assist the people in the Volkswagen Golf who had car troubles when the incident happened on July 15.

The night sky was clear and the full moon was out which made for good visibility that evening, however the vehicles that was parked on the yellow line were still caught up in the incident when the truck crashed into them from behind and literally rolled over the vehicles. It is unclear what caused the truck driver to lose control however a case of culpable homicide was opened with the Witbank SAPS and the case is being investigated.

The driver of the Opel survived the incident with minor injuries. His employer and close friend Mr Thinus van Staden said that the victim Mr Roelof Barnard was on his way home for the weekend as he works out of town when he saw the stranded Golf next to the road and decided to help.

“We work in the break down and repair industry so stopping to help is in our blood, he felt he had to stop. He was trying to be a Good Samaritan and then something like this happened,” said van Staden.

“I don’t know how I got out of there. I can’t remember much of what happened after,” said Barnard about the incident that left him in shock.

He recalled that he was standing outside speaking to the driver of the Golf at the moment of the collision. He sustained bruses on his head and lacerations.

The wrecked vehicle after a truck collided from behind.

The woman who was in the passenger seat of the Golf died on the scene, her mother and child was also in the car with her. They are both still in hospital with serious injuries but were transported to Krugersdorp where the family currently lives. They were not available for comment on the incident.

Driving from Boksburg in Gauteng to eMalahleni via the N12 one cannot help but notice the white crosses next to the winding highway that stand as reminders of the lives lost in similar incidents.

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