Upington – Four women were killed and five children aged between one-month and 11 years were critically injured when the bakkie they were travelling in overturned in the Northern Cape on Friday night.
Fifteen adults were also found with various injuries ranging from moderate to severe, ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said on Saturday.
Paramedics from ER24 and local emergency services arrived on the N14 about 100km from Olifantshoek towards Upington just before midnight.
They found several people scattered across the road surface. All of them were ejected when the bakkie and trailer overturned, he said.
"Paramedics found four women with fatal injuries. Sadly, there was nothing that they could do for them and they were declared dead on the scene. Five children were found in a critical condition. All of them sustained various injuries, including several broken bones and head injuries."
The surviving occupants were transported to Upington Provincial Hospital for further treatment. The driver of the bakkie was transported to Mediclinic Upington for further care. He sustained serious injuries.
The cause of the accident was not yet known, but local authorities attended the scene and were investigating, Vermaak said.