Johannesburg - The Road Accident Fund has moved swiftly to assist the families affected by the N12 horror crash.
Four people were killed and dozens injured after the brakes of a truck allegedly failed as it was driving on the N12 east near the Voortrekker off-ramp on Tuesday morning.
The driver of the truck, 44-year-old Isaac Wade Moruding, allegedly hooted to warn motorists as the heavy vehicle came hurtling down the highway. Nearly 50 cars were involved in the crash.
Moruding reportedly told witnesses his brakes failed. He was arrested after the incident.
By yesterday, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) was assisting families with their burial arrangements, hospital stays and counselling. While the police were compiling accident reports, families of the deceased were visited by RAF representatives.
Fund consultants are also finalising a report on the victim who died at Baragwaneth Hospital in Soweto from injuries sustained in the accident.
Further attempts by the RAF have also been made to contact every person who was injured and provide them with the necessary support to lodge their complaints.
Dr Eugene Watson, RAF’s chief executive, said: “We wish to extend our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and a speedy recovery to the injured. Road safety is a collective responsibility of all road users and it is imperative that we all play our part in reducing accidents.”
Watson said the RAF would support families of the deceased by covering basic funeral expenses before claims were lodged, a service the RAF offers to all relatives of those who die in car accidents.
Funeral costs covered include coffins (or cremation), grave fees, hiring of equipment to lower the coffin into the grave, digging of the grave, hiring a hearse and storage and transportation of the body.
The truck that caused the multi-vehicle pile-up was on the road illegally and the driver has previous convictions. The licence and roadworthy certificate for the truck and its trailer expired on October 8, Gauteng Traffic Police said. Spokesman, Obed Sibasa said: “It was not supposed to be on the road.”
A second truck belonging to Benusi Cargo Carriers in Potchefstroom was pulled off the road later the same day for being unroadworthy – four of its tyres were worn.
The truck driver appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Moruding faces four counts of culpable homicide and one of reckless and negligent driving. The court heard that Moruding was convicted of culpable homicide, and reckless and negligent driving. It was believed the man was handed a jail term for both offences.
The case was postponed to October 22.
Saturday Star