Durban - Three people were killed, including a child in two separate crashes on Friday in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and oThongathi.
On Friday afternoon after 5.20pm, Midlands EMS Howick advanced life support ambulances responded to the R617, just past Mpophomeni in the Midlands following reports of a motor vehicle crash.
Spokesperson Roland Robertson said upon arrival, it was found that two vehicles had been involved in a crash, with one of the vehicles ending up in a stream next to the roadway.
“One patient was found to be entrapped in the vehicle and showed no signs of life and was declared dead on the scene by paramedics,” Robertson said.
He said six other people sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical and were treated by Midlands EMS advanced life support paramedics.
“The child and the mother were rushed off to a nearby clinic where the child was declared dead,” Robertson said.
He said all patients were treated and taken to hospital.
He added that the cause of the crash would be investigated by the local authorities.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said Mpophomeni SAPS were investigating a case of culpable homicide.
“It is alleged that on April 1, 2022, at 5.30pm on the R617, two vehicles were involved in a collision. A 26-year-old driver and his two-year-old son were declared dead at the scene,” Gwala said.
Two people dubbed the R617 as the road of death.
Jean Henderson said: “So sad the R617 is a road of death, mainly because drivers have no respect for the rules of the road. Condolences to the family. May their souls rest in peace.”
Pavol Sofranko Madlala sent his condolences to the family and said he saw the crash on Friday.
“(The) R617 is a road I use on a daily basis; this is the road of death”.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, one person was killed and four people were left injured following a two-vehicle crash on Watson Highway in oThongathi.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said when Rusa arrived on the scene, they found that two light motor vehicles had collided head-on.
“Two occupants of a silver VW Polo were not injured while four individuals from a red VW Polo sustained moderate to severe injuries. A fifth person from the red VW Polo was fatally injured,” Balram said.
He said paramedics from a private ambulance service had stabilised the injured patients before transporting them to the hospital.
Balram added that circumstances leading up to the incident were not immediately established.
Gwala said a case of culpable homicide was being investigated by Tongaat SAPS.
“It is alleged that on April 1, 2022, at 10.50pm, two vehicles were involved in a collision on M43, Watson Highway in Tongaat. One person died while others sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical attention,” Gwala said.
Commenting on Rusa’s Facebook post about the crash, Happiness Luthuli said it was painful because it was her relatives in the red VW Polo, who had visited her. She conveyed her condolences.
Daily News