Durban – A motorist was seriously injured when their vehicle collided with a fallen tree on the M13 eastbound near St Johns Bridge in Pinetown, due to the strong winds on Tuesday night.
While most of Durban fell into darkness after the Klaarwater substation in the Mariann Industrial Park in Pinetown exploded on Tuesday night, a ’berg wind weather system soon blew over the area bring strong winds to some parts of the city.
Specialised Tactical Accident Rescue Team (START) director and spokesperson Warren Brauns said due to the power outage, Disaster Management had issued a low-level standby alert due to the unknown time frame of the power supply issue and two START Rescue teams were made available.
He said START was activated for reports of a car that had hit a tree with entrapments.
According to Brauns, when members arrived on the scene they found that a single vehicle had collided with a tree that had fallen over, due to the high winds and obstructed the roadway.
“One person suffered a severe injury which was caused by a thick branch pushing through the bottom of the vehicle,” he said.
He said the motorist was treated and stabilised on the scene, with the assistance of Netcare911 Rescue and Redline ambulance service before being transported to a medical facility for further care.
Brauns said START members were then asked to assist with the removal of the tree.
“Using chainsaws the team cut the big stump into pieces and removed it from the road way, the main stump needed to have a base redirect. Using a START 4x4 vehicle, the stump was winched off the roadway to an area agreed on by the Metro Police and Fire Department,” he said.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, Brauns said the team received calls for assistance in the Paradise Valley area where reports were received of a factory that was alight in the same complex as the START headquarters.
“The teams along with Metro, SAPS and the Fire Department were fortunately able to contain the fire and quickly put it out and dampen down the area. No injuries were reported,” he said.