N2 crash claims three
Three dead bodies, three grieving families. It is a story of yet another fatal crash on the N2
TWO metres away from a team of paramedics working quietly and quickly to stabilise a male patient, the body of a woman lies covered with a space blanket.
The man has a severely fractured femur, serious internal injuries and a head wound that will require several stitches.
The woman is not so lucky.
A pool of blood has formed around her hand, which is protruding from underneath the silver foil ‘blanket’ which is now synonymous with death on South African roads.
Pieces of wood are placed on the edges to stop the wind from blowing it away and stripping her of the last remaining shred of dignity.
A short distance away another body lies mangled and covered.
Also a woman.
A little further down the road, another body, this time a man.
Three dead bodies, three grieving families. It is a story of yet another fatal crash on the N2.
Death road
Just after 1pm on Saturday, two cars collided at high speed on the N2, a few hundred metres away from the Fairbreeze off-ramp.
Paramedics from IPSS Medical Rescue as well as KZN EMS, ECG Medical Rescue, Mandeni Fire and Rescue and Netcare 911 arrived on scene only to declare three people dead, while a further three were in critical condition.
As the Zululand Observer arrived on scene, the EMS Air Mercy Wing helicopter took off, carrying one patient to Durban.
The remaining four would be transported by ambulance to hospitals in Empangeni, Richards Bay and Durban, all in critical condition.
While the cause of the crash remains the subject of a police investigation, it is believed both vehicles – a white Hyundai hatchback and a silver Mazda people carrier – were travelling towards Durban when the Hyundai had a tire blowout, causing the driver to lose control.
The Mazda, with Swaziland number plates, rear-ended the Hyundai at high speed. Almost all the patients had to be extricated by fire fighters.
In another incident early on Sunday morning, the driver of a small silver hatchback was killed on the N2 between Mtuba and Hluhluwe.
It is believed two cars and a truck were involved.
The truck came to a stop off the roadway on top of the front half of the hatchback, the car having been torn in two.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, as police will still notify their next of kin.
By Sunday morning more than 10 people died on KZN roads in what has been the bloodiest weekend since Easter.
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