Another deadly crash on Field’s Hill

DURBAN: 300913 Truck colided with two taxis in Fields Hill killing intantly two pasengers from one taxi. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE

DURBAN: 300913 Truck colided with two taxis in Fields Hill killing intantly two pasengers from one taxi. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE

Published Oct 1, 2013

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Durban - Field’s Hill was the scene of another fatal crash on Monday night when two people died when a truck crashed into two taxis. At least 20 people were hurt.

Witnesses said a taxi had broken down at the side of the road on the uphill section before the Village Road offramp and its passengers were getting out and standing alongside it.

A second taxi, coming up the hill, swerved to avoid hitting the first. A truck, also coming up the hill, ploughed into the taxi that had swerved out and then hit the stationary taxi and its passengers.

 

Raymond Dlamini, the driver of the broken-down taxi, said he had asked his passengers to get out. He watched in horror as the truck hit the other taxi before crashing into his passengers, some of whom were still getting out, killing two.

The accident comes less than a month after 23 people died when an out-of-control truck ploughed into four taxis and a car on the Richmond Road offramp.

Both taxis were heading to Molweni on Monday night, taking commuters home from work in rush-hour traffic.

The driver of the truck was taken to hospital with injuries to his legs and spine. Simosakhe Miya, a passenger in the truck, said they came over a blind rise and had not seen the stationary taxi in time to avoid the taxi that swerved out.

Pinetown fire department station commander Khulekani Cele said at the scene: “Trucks are a huge problem on Field’s Hill; I have lost count of how many times we have been called out to fatal accidents involving trucks on this stretch of road.”

Kloof DA ward councillor Rick Crouch urged Transport MEC Willies Mchunu and his department to ban trucks from Field’s Hill: “While the task team that has been set up looks at finding solutions for Field’s Hill these trucks have to be stopped.”

Kwanele Ncalane, KZN Transport Department spokesman, said

a team was investigating.

“The MEC (Willies Mchunu) is of course saddened. The government is giving it the maximum attention,” Ncalane said.

Lilian Develing of the Combined Ratepayers’ Association said she was in the process of drafting a letter to the provincial Transport Department, warning that a damaged bridge on the M13 would lead to “another Field’s Hill” tragedy.

“The trucks should be allowed to go through the tolls for free,” Develing said, “It will not cost as much as the loss of lives.”

Develing did not believe the authorities were doing enough to prevent truck accidents.

“This needs a huge onslaught. Every time I get behind the wheel I try to avoid Field’s Hill. I really sit with my heart in my mouth.”

Police at the scene stressed the importance of using a “hazard triangle” correctly when a vehicle broke down. “If you are ever in a similar situation and you break down on a blind rise or corner, the triangle should be placed in a place to warn vehicles,” a policeman said.

Since the September 5 accident, the provincial Transport Department has come down hard on trucking companies and impounded several vehicles considered unroadworthy.

Among those were three from Sagekal Logistics, the company that owned the truck involved in the first accident. Sanele May, the driver, is still in police custody and has been charged by the National Prosecuting Authority with murdering those who died.

The Mercury

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