Johannesburg - One person died and another is in a critical condition after the car they were travelling in crashed into the back of an SANDF armoured vehicle.
The accident happened at about 6.30am on day, along the N1 South near William Nicol off-ramp.
SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said the armoured vehicle involved in the crash had been part of a convoy of 43 military vehicles that was travelling from Wallmansdall to the South African Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatla, Northern Cape.
He said the vehicles had been travelling in the morning as it was a long distance and they had to reach their destination before sunset.
The Star understands that the armoured vehicle, in camouflage military colours, had been driving slowly in the yellow lane when the car smashed into it.
Asked if proper safety measures had been taken, Mabanga said the vehicles were visible and had their lights switched on. He said heavy duty military vehicles driving on public roads was not in anyway irregular.
“There is nothing spectacular about it. Military vehicles get moved around all the time, either via sea, road or air. Our vehicles were moving at the time when a civilian vehicle smashed into it,” he said, also expressing condolences to the person who died in the accident.
Joburg metro police department spokesman Wayne Minnaar said he could not comment on the circumstances surrounding the accident and referred all enquiries to the SANDF.
According to ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring, paramedics had arrived on the scene to find the truck and light motor vehicle stationary in the emergency lane.
He said paramedics had found two people trapped in the wreckage. Rescue services had to use hydraulic jaws to cut through the wreckage to gain access to the people who were trapped inside.
Meiring said the driver of the car had died of multiple injuries.
The passenger was given advanced life-support treatment and taken to hospital.
No one in the armoured vehicle had been injured.
The Star