Bleak weekend on KZN roads: 26 dead
Two accidents in the King Cestshwayo District resulted in 19 fatalities at the weekend
IT was a grim weekend on KZN’s roads as at least 26 people lost their lives in a series of devastating crashes.
At least 19 of those killed were involved in fatal collisions within the King Cetshwayo District Municipality in northern KZN.
On Saturday morning seven people died and one was critically injured following a horror crash in the Midlands.
Reports indicate that a bakkie and vehicle collided on the R617 near Appelsbosch.
Later that evening a head-on collision between a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi and a Mercedes Benz C63 on the N2 just outside Empangeni, resulted in the death of 15 people, including a seven month pregnant mother and her fetus.
Both vehicles burst into flames upon impact, resulting in the death of the Mercedes’ three occupants and 12 taxi passengers.
ALSO READ: Fatal accident on N2 near Empangeni
Four people were treated for severe burn wounds and multiple fractures on the scene before being transported to Ngwelezana Hospital in a critical condition.
In another fatal accident, four woman died after a bakkie and a minibus taxi collided and veered down a steep embankment near the Ulundi turn-off on the R34/R66. going down the Mthonjaneni pass yesterday afternoon.
One person sustained critical injuries, while 11 others were treated for moderate to minor injuries.
The weekend’s road fatality death toll prompted KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, to instruct law enforcement officers to clamp down on reckless drivers.
‘We are going to clamp down on drinking and driving, speeding, unroadworthy vehicles and unlicensed drivers,’ said Kaunda.
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