KZN on high alert after four die in separate crashes amid heavy rain - IOL

Twelve people, including two children, have died in separate road crashes in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, with heavy rain and poor visibility reported as factors in some of the incidents.

Four people have died in separate accidents on KwaZulu-Natal roads as the province deals with heavy rainfall and weather alerts. 

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the accidents took place on the N2 near Umkuze and the R66 between Gingindlovu and Eshowe.

“As prolonged rainfall continues to wreak havoc in KwaZulu-Natal, I received a report at 4 am this morning detailing the work of dedicated teams from the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Human Settlements,” Duma said.

Duma said poor visibility, wet roads and flooding had been cited as the main causes of many accidents reported across KwaZulu-Natal, including on the N2 and N3.

“We wish to send our deepest condolences to the families of four people who died in separate horrific accidents involving trucks,” he said.

One of the accidents occurred on the N2 in Umkuze, in the Umkhanyakude District, involving a truck and a light motor vehicle.

Two people died in the crash, while an infant was seriously injured.

Two people also died and two others were seriously injured in another accident on the R66, about 5km past the RTI offices in Gingindlovu, in the direction of Eshowe.

According to a preliminary RTI report, the steering of a truck carrying a mounted drilling machine allegedly locked while the vehicle was in motion, causing it to veer into the opposite lane.

Duma said teams from Human Settlements would consolidate reports from roving teams monitoring high-risk areas, particularly settlements located in flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, eight people, including two children, were killed in a head-on collision on the N17 toll road near Ermelo in Mpumalanga in the early hours of Sunday, September 13.

The crash, involving a Toyota and a Volkswagen, reportedly occurred at about 1:30am.

Mpumalanga Community Safety spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said the deceased included two minors and six adults.

“Seven of the victims were occupants in the VW sedan, while the eighth victim was the driver of the Toyota sedan, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash. No further injuries were recorded,” Mmusi said.

He said the cause of the crash was unknown at this stage, but reckless and negligent driving could not be ruled out.

“An investigation has already commenced,” he said.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads.

“Motorists must obey the rules of the road and adjust their driving in line with prevailing weather and road conditions. Greater vigilance is a must, especially when visibility is affected,” Macie said.

He also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.