A father, his son and his son’s friend were killed when an 18-wheeler truck crashed into their Ford Fiesta on the N2 northbound near the M19 uMgeni Road off-ramp yesterday.
Six other people were injured in the multiple crash. According to police, the juggernaut damaged 12 cars before it came to a halt.
Paramedics at the scene could not confirm the ages of the two children, but they are believed to be 13 and nine years old.
The crash caused massive gridlock along various routes leading to the N2. By 7pm, several hours after the crash, traffic along the N2 was still backed up.
ER24 spokesman, Derrick Banks, said that when paramedics arrived, they found the truck and two other cars on a construction road next to the freeway. One car was found underneath the front of the truck, another was found at the back of the trailer.
Three other cars were found on the N2 with extensive damage.
Netcare 911 spokesman, Chris Botha, said he believed one of the cars belonged to a holidaymaker, as fishing rods and Monopoly money were scattered next to it.
Trapped
“Paramedics started assessing the man and the children who were trapped inside the vehicle that was underneath the cabin of the truck. They had suffered very traumatic and fatal injuries and were declared deceased on the scene,” said Banks.
“The Jaws of Life and other rescue equipment were used by the local fire department to extricate the deceased from the vehicle.”
He said the occupants from the other vehicles had sustained minor to moderate injuries and were transported to various hospitals in the area.
It is believed the truck had mechanical problem while coming down the N2, causing the driver to lose control and collide with the vehicles, dragging one of them underneath it before it could stop.
“The driver of the truck was not injured.
“He had a Free State licence plate and the SAPS will be investigating,” said Banks.
Transport Department spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane, could not confirm whether the truck driver had been arrested.