Johannesburg - Collisions as drivers lost control of their vehicles in the rain and one vehicle bursting into flames in the middle of a highway caused carnage on Joburg's roads on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
At least six people were killed while 28 were injured.
In Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, two people died and five others were injured at 5.30am when a minibus taxi and a vehicle collided on the R25 near Link Road.
Meanwhile, one person was killed and a second person critically injured in a head-on collision in Kempton Park.
According to Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesman Kobedi Mokheseng, the accident happened at 5.30am.
“A car was trying to overtake another car when it collided with an oncoming vehicle. One man was seriously injured and a second was pronounced dead on the scene,” he said.
In another accident last night at 11, two people were killed when the minibus they were travelling in smashed into a barrier and rolled off the N1 near the Maraisburg off-ramp.
ER24 spokesman Pieter Rossouw said the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. Nine other passengers, including a pregnant woman, were injured.
“ER24 treated and transported a total of three patients to various hospitals in the area for further treatment. The remaining patients were treated and transported by other medical services on the scene,” said Rossouw.
In Westonaria, one person died while six others sustained injuries when two vehicles collided head-on on the R28 this morning.
According to a paramedic on the scene who asked to remain anonymous, the impact of the crash resulted in one of the vehicles bursting into flames, killing one of the occupants and injuring six others.
Another car caught alight on the M1 South in Booysens, opposite Gold Reef City, but according to JMPD spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, the fire was under control.
“No one was injured in the fire and we are dealing with it. Traffic is still very heavy in that area but once it’s cleared, we expect traffic flow to improve,” he said.
In another collision on the R59 this morning, four passengers in a taxi sustained minor injuries.
Commuters were also left frustrated as several traffic lights were not working, causing severe traffic delays in Sandton, Randburg, Hyde Park, City Deep and Edenvale.
Joburg Roads Agency spokeswoman Bertha Peter-Scheepers said the power supply was the main reason for the faulty traffic lights, but added that the rain had made matters worse.
The wet weather conditions are expected to continue into the weekend.
SA Weather Service forecaster Jan Vermeulen said a 30 percent chance of showers would persist until Sunday, with temperatures expected to peak at 32 degrees.
Vermeulen said isolated showers were also expected into the weekend in other parts of the country.
This includes a 60 percent chance of rain in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
With the possibility of more rain, drivers have been cautioned to drive with their headlights on and keep a safe following distance.
The Star