Winterton - Two people sustained fatal injuries while four other people were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in veered out of control and rolled on the R600 in Champagne Valley in the Winterton area in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday afternoon, paramedics said.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene shortly before 3pm, they found other medical services already in attendance, ER24 spokesperson Ineke van Huyssteen said in a statement.
"Upon further assessment, it was found that a vehicle left the roadway, rolled, and landed in the river below. One of the patients was found lying on the embankment and showing no signs of life. Paramedics declared the patient dead at the scene. One other patient managed to climb up to the roadside and was found to be in a serious condition," she said.
"Three other people were found inside the vehicle in the river but managed to exit the vehicle and were found to have sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. A patient was also found with fatal injuries lying next to the vehicle. The patient was declared dead at the scene by paramedics."
ER24, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal emergency medical services (EMS) and another medical service at the scene, treated the patients before transporting them to hospital for further medical care. The exact circumstances surrounding the accident were not yet known, Van Huyssteen said.
Earlier, Van Huyssteen said two people were killed and four other people sustained serious injuries when two vehicle's collided on the R28 in Westonaria on the West Rand in Gauteng late on Friday night.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 11.30 pm, the Gauteng EMS were already in attendance.
"Upon further assessment, paramedics found two people who had sustained fatal injuries. Unfortunately, nothing could be done for them and they were declared dead at the scene. Four others were found to have sustained serious injuries," she said.
- African News Agency (ANA), editing by Jacques Keet