A tipper truck driver is currently in police custody after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into a house in Emona, near Tongaat, on Tuesday afternoon.
The driver, a 52-year-old man from Zimbabwe, allegedly lost control of the tipper truck, resulting in a collision with a residential property.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) reports that one person was killed in the crash and another person critically injured inside the house.
The injured individual was subsequently transported to a hospital in critical condition.
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The driver, suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, was transporting building sand from Emona to Tongaat.
During the journey, he overturned the white Powerstar truck into an informal dwelling.
The truck ultimately came to rest atop the deceased individual.
A passenger in the truck, who had accepted a lift to Tongaat from the driver, informed Reaction Officers about the incident.
Empty alcohol bottles were found inside the vehicle.
Members of Reaction Officers, along with IPSS Medical Rescue paramedics and local community members, worked together to remove the sand and uncover the deceased’s body.
RUSA disclosed that efforts were underway last night to extricate the deceased, whose head was trapped under the vehicle.
A significant crowd gathered at the accident site and threatened to assault the driver.
Authorities from the South African Police Service (SAPS) took custody of the allegedly intoxicated driver.
