KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) endured a tragic weekend on its roads, marked by multiple deadly crashes, including a horrific incident that resulted in a KZN car crash, claiming seven lives and leaving several others injured.
This shocking KZN car crash highlights the urgent need for road safety measures in the region.
On Sunday night, chaos erupted on the N3 near Peacevale, west of Durban, after a truck ploughed into several vehicles before bursting into flames.
Truck Inferno on N3
According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, emergency teams from Hibiscus Cato Ridge Hospital arrived to scenes of devastation.
“One truck was on fire, and wrecked vehicles were scattered across the highway. The Ethekwini Fire Department was immediately called to assist,” he said.
Two truck drivers sustained moderate injuries, while another motorist suffered minor injuries. All were stabilised on-site before being transported to hospital.
The Pietermaritzburg-bound carriageway remained closed for hours as rescue teams battled the blaze and cleared debris.
KZN Car Crash: Series of Fatal Crashes on N2
Meanwhile, the N2 between Chaka’s Rock and Mandeni became a death trap on Saturday night, with four separate accidents resulting in seven fatalities.
The first incident occurred near the Salt Rock off-ramp around 7pm, when a pedestrian was struck and killed.
Just hours later, another pedestrian was fatally hit near Chaka’s Rock around 11pm. The vehicle that struck him lost control, caught fire, and killed its driver. Both the pedestrian and the motorist died on the scene.
A third pedestrian lost his life on the N2 near Mandeni later that night.
Around midnight, a devastating head-on crash near Mandeni claimed three more lives. A car carrying five passengers from Ballito to Richards Bay collided with a South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle travelling south.
Two men and a woman in the civilian car were killed instantly, while the remaining passengers were critically injured. The police officer, travelling alone, was rushed to hospital in serious condition.
Province Reeling from Road Carnage
The spate of accidents has once again highlighted the deadly toll of reckless driving, poor visibility, and high traffic volumes on KZN’s major routes. Emergency officials have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially during late-night travel.
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