18 People Killed, Several Injured in Road Accident After Multiple Vehicles Collide on N3 Van Reenen’s Pass KwaZulu-Natal
In a tragic development, 18 people lost their lives on Monday night in a horrific multi-vehicle crash on the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal.
The deadly collision, which occurred around 8:30 PM, involved a truck, a minibus, and a light vehicle.
Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), confirmed the fatalities to TimesLives, noting that the deceased included 13 adults and five children. A baby survived the crash but remains in critical condition.
“The cause of the crash is unknown and will be subject to investigation by the RTMC and police,” Zwane said.
Heavy Rainfall and Rising Road Accidents
KwaZulu-Natal’s transport and human settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, extended his condolences to the grieving families. Duma also requested a comprehensive report from the road traffic inspectorate team.
He emphasized the increasing number of accidents along major routes, including the N3 and N2, attributing some incidents to heavy rainfall in the region.
Social Media Reaction to the Tragedy
The devastating accident has sparked widespread mourning across South Africa, with social media users expressing their shock and condolences. Many prayed for the swift recovery of the injured baby and others affected.
However, some netizens used the tragedy to highlight long-standing concerns about road safety. Several users urged the government to prioritize fixing the railway system, advocating for the transportation of goods by train instead of trucks.
Here are some of the reactions;
@nigerianoise;
Oh! May their souls rest in peace. Wish the injured quick recovery
@Fineboy_X_;
This is so sad, Sending love and prayers to all the families that have lost their loved ones 💔
@PGAA123;
Really sad😢 We pray that their souls rest in eternal peace 🙏🏼
@MantibaPhalane;
Tragedies of the road this is heartbreaking 💔 😢 may their souls rest in peace and a speedy recovery to the surviving baby.
@MoMadibi;
The idea of using railways to transport goods and getting rid of trucks on our roads should really be considered.
We can’t go on like this as if things are normal.
Making more rails between provinces, infact there are railways already , just that they r not used anymore.
@SirDavid_Dashe;
The government needs to get the trucks of the road. Goods must be transported by trains 😭😭😭😭
@FloydMunetsi;
Terrible news! Prayers for the families affected by this tragedy. Perhaps it’s time to consider banning long-distance public transport at night. Poor visibility, excessive speed, bad weather & driver fatigue make it too risky nowadays, especially with so many lives at stake.
@Unahinanaye;
Repairing the railway lines between major cities will significantly reduce road fatalities. The majority of road accidents in our country are caused by transporting goods via road freight. Unfortunately, the government seems unwilling to fix the railway lines because many officials have personal interests in road transport businesses and benefit significantly from it.