Two cops injured in crash, blast discharged

Five people were killed when a truck carrying blasting caps exploded near Mokopane this morning.

Five people were killed when a truck carrying blasting caps exploded near Mokopane this morning.

Published Feb 28, 2014

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Johannesburg - Two of the three police officers injured in an explosion on the N1 in Limpopo were discharged from hospital on Friday morning, police said.

“The other member, whose leg had to be amputated, is still in hospital,” Colonel Ronel Otto said.

Four police officers and a truck driver were killed in the early hours of Thursday when they attended to an accident between a grocery truck and a truck carrying explosives between Polokwane and Mokopane. The grocery truck rear-ended the truck carrying blasting caps around 1am. The driver of the grocery truck was killed.

Three other vehicles were damaged in the subsequent explosion. Otto said other people were injured, but she did not know the extent of their injuries.

“There were injuries with people in other vehicles. I think they received medical treatment, but I don't know if they were admitted to hospital or not.”

Police had opened culpable homicide and inquest dockets.

“We are in the process of obtaining statements from witnesses and our own members. It might take some time,” said Otto.

“Then the docket will be sent to court to decide if anyone can be held liable.”

A forensic team would conduct post mortems and DNA tests on Friday to help identify the bodies.

It was not known if the highway had been re-opened. Otto referred those queries to the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) as it had apparently taken over the accident scene.

Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona and the transport department could not be reached for comment. - Sapa

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