CHRISTMAS Day ended on a bleak note when seven people were killed in two separate evening crashes.
The first took place at about 6pm close to the N2 overpass at Kwabonambi when a double cab Nissan Hardbody and a Chrysler Neon sedan collided.
The sole occupant of the bakkie and three people in the car died on scene.
According to witnesses, the incident was caused by a third vehicle, a red GP-registered VW Polo that raced away from the death scene.
While ambulance and rescue personnel were still clearing up the scene, a report was received of a second head-on collision on the John Ross Parkway in Empangeni.
A Mercedes Benz travelling at high speed towards the Rail crossed the Oilco robots before losing control and veering over the centre median into an oncoming Hyundai Accent.
Such was the force of the impact that the engine was torn from the Mercedes, while the front of the Accent was demolished, leaving its three occupants deceased.
All five people in the Mercedes were reportedly alive and were taken to hospital.
