Durban - An Edendale family are counting their lucky stars that they are alive following a freak accident on Saturday in which a municipal dump truck crashed into their house.
Three of the family members suffered serious injury when debris from the house fell on top of them.
Emergency rescue workers said the truck driver was believed to have lost control of the heavy-duty vehicle, veered off the side of the road and then rolled down a hill, colliding with two cars and then crashing into the side of the house, upside down. The roof of the house collapsed, along with the outer side wall.
ER24 paramedic spokesman Derrick Banks said that when they arrived on the scene, they found the driver and two passengers trapped inside the truck. The three occupants of the house were treated on the scene for injuries and then taken to hospital.
“Paramedics and fire department officials started cutting the wreckage to help free the injured victims,” Banks said. The Jaws of Life and other rescue equipment were used to extricate the driver and passengers from the cabin. After several hours of effort, the victims were freed from the vehicle.
“Two of the victims were treated for critical injuries while the third person was treated for suspected neck and back injuries,” said Banks.
All three are said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
The damage to the house is still being assessed by insurers.
The family are now living with relatives.
Just last week, a truck ploughed into a house in Cleland.
The driver had left the truck idling on an incline while he drew money at an ATM. It led to a crash that left the Pietermaritzburg home almost completely destroyed.
The runaway truck rolled from its parking spot in CB Downes Road near the Polly Shortts Spar, knocked over a lamppost and crossed three roads and a field unmanned for 500m until it hit a house. No one was hurt, but the house was extensively damaged.
Daily News