The five people killed when a light motor vehicle and 4x4 collided head-on on the R616 in Bergville on Monday night will be buried in Ladysmith today (on Tuesday).
ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring said paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after 6.30pm on Monday to find the two wrecked vehicles on the opposite sides of the road.
Several bodies were found lying around the light motor vehicle.
Upon closer inspection, paramedics found the bodies of three men and two women lying outside the light motor vehicle. They were declared dead on the scene, while three others were injured.
The three occupants from the 4x4 were assessed and found to have sustained minor to moderate injuries.
They were treated for their injuries and were thereafter transported to Ladysmith Provincial Hospital for further care.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, received the news of the crash with shock and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
In a statement the department said preliminary reports indicated that a Range Rover, which was carrying three passengers, who all escaped with minor injuries, collided head-on with a Toyota Avanza, which had eight occupants in it.
“Five people from the Toyota died instantly upon impact, with three escaping with minor injuries.”
Kaunda expressed his concern over the continued loss of lives on the province’s roads, particularly after a recent crash that left 19 people dead at KwaXimba.
“It is disturbing to lose so many lives on our roads. Road safety is a collective responsibility; we must all put our shoulders to the wheel and save lives.”
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.