Durban - The investigation into a horrific crash on the N2, near Umgeni in Durban on Tuesday morning has taken a different turn. Police now believe the vehicle may have been shot at after bullet shrapnel was found inside the car.
According to police, the vehicle was travelling north on the N2 and drove towards the offramp to Inanda.
Rescue Care's Garrith Jamieson said emergency crews rushed to the scene where a driver was believed to have lost control of the vehicle he was driving, causing it to swerve before overturning.
Video: Motshwari Mofokeng (African News Agency)
"The Jaws of Life and other hydraulic equipment was used to cut the occupants free. Unfortunately seven people had already succumbed to the injuries they had sustained, four females and three males were declared deceased at the scene. One occupant had sustained serious injuries and was stabilised at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital for the further care that he required," he said.
An officer from the Durban Accident Combatting Unit told eNCA they had established that the vehicle may have been shot at.
"This is now taking a different investigation into the crash. We have established a bullet entry into the rear right of the vehicle. We found bullet shrapnel in the vehicle. We are waiting for forensics to arrive so that they can continue with the investigation," Captain Raj Rooplal.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeke Mbele, confirmed that police were investigating further.
"We can confirm an accident where a vehicle was travelling on the M19 with eight people when it capsized. A total of seven people died at the scene while another was taken to hospital for medical attention. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated," Mbele said.