Durban - A truck which stood broken down for hours in the left lane on a stretch of the M4 near the Sibaya off-ramp claimed two young lives when their car slammed into the back of it at 1am on Sunday.
Paramedics, the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department and road users have all confirmed that the truck stood stationary for hours, without any warning lights or triangles.
The accident has left a Durban restaurateur incensed and racked with remorse, and the Transport Department pledging to look into why traffic authorities did not move the vehicle when it was clearly a hazard.
Two young men died and another was seriously injured when their Toyota Tazz smashed into the back of the heavy goods truck.
When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived they found the car wedged under the truck, with the occupants still trapped in the twisted frame, spokesman Chris Botha said.
The Jaws of Life had to be used to free the seriously injured young man, who was taken to a hospital in Durban.
Botha said according to rescue workers, the truck driver claimed that a mechanic had been called to assist, and had left to collect spare parts.
Restaurateur Robert Mauvis said he and his wife had spotted the truck between 6.30pm and 7pm on Saturday night. He said the hazard lights were not switched on, and there was no reflective emergency triangle sign to warn motorists.
“I want to do everything in my power to ensure that everyone responsible for this negligence is held accountable. Two young lives have been lost! But my wife and I also feel guilty – we’re asking ourselves why we didn’t phone the police or traffic authorities,” Mauvis said.
“Is it inexcusable. We should not let this incident slip by – it is our duty as responsible citizens.”
Kwanele Ncalane, spokesman for the KZN Transport Department, said the department intended taking the matter up with the metro police, the Road Traffic Inspectorate, the SAPS and the truck company to find out why the truck had not been moved off the road.
“We have seen a number of accidents caused by trucks stuck in the middle of the road. We urge truck companies to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy.”
Ncalane said traffic authorities should have parked a vehicle behind the truck to warn motorists.
“At times, our officers are stretched, so they can’t be at every accident scene. But it is a matter we will take up.”
Metro police spokesman Eugene Msomi said according to the records, a patrol vehicle had been sent to the broken-down truck, another team was later sent to take over, and the intention had been to have the truck removed – but the accident had occurred before that could happen.
Msomi said the metro police had been in contact with the truck driver, and the accident was the subject of a full investigation.
People expressed their anger on Facebook on Sunday over the truck’s not being moved off the road, some having driven past it on the M4.
In a second incident on the M4 on Sunday, the driver of a BMW lost control near Virginia Airport.
Kyle van Reenen, a spokesman for Crisis Medical, said the car rolled several times, crashed through a fence and ended up on the embankment, leaving the 34-year-old driver trapped.
It took an hour-long effort by Crisis Medical paramedics and members of Ethekwini Fire and Rescue to free him. He was taken to a nearby hospital.
On Saturday night, Netcare 911 paramedics attended to a man who had been seriously injured when his Land Rover hurtled through a Malvern petrol station and crashed into a wall.
On Sunday the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, announced that a team of engineers would conduct an assessment and investigate safety measures in Shaka’s Head after the death of 16 people when a minibus taxi was crushed by a train last week.
The team was expected to inspect the intersection and bridge where the accident happened and to come up with safety recommendations.
Mchunu received a report that said that two other accidents had happened at the same spot.
The Mercury