KwaZulu-Natal Accident: Five People Killed, Thirteen Others Injured as Taxi Plunges Down Embankment
Five people lost their lives and thirteen others were injured when a taxi veered off the N3 and rolled down an embankment near Pinetown on Friday.
Collision Causes Taxi to Plunge
According to ALS Paramedics, the accident happened just after the Mariannhill Toll Plaza on the Pietermaritzburg-bound side of the highway.
A taxi collided with a light motor vehicle, believed to be a Volkswagen Polo, before it overturned and rolled approximately 60 to 70 metres down the slope.
Emergency teams responded swiftly and established a triage area to treat the large number of casualties.
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Victims Include SAPS Officer
Despite the efforts of first responders, five people were declared dead at the scene.
According to Kaya 959, MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed that among the deceased were four women and one man.
One of the victims was a member of the South African Police Service who was in full uniform at the time of the crash.
“We are saddened by the death of five people in this accident caused by a Polo driver, just after the Mariannhill Tollgate. The recovery of the bodies has been completed. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Duma said.
Thirteen Transported to Hospital
Thirteen passengers sustained injuries ranging from moderate to critical. Rescue personnel, including Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini Fire Department, and Mobiclaw, spent more than three hours using a rope system to bring the injured up the embankment to waiting ambulances.
The injured were transported to various hospitals in Durban for further treatment.
Investigation Underway
Authorities, including SAPS and Road Traffic Inspectorate officials, attended the scene and have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Duma added that efforts were ongoing to trace and notify the families of all the deceased.
“We wish those in hospital a speedy recovery,” he said.