A serious collision involving two trucks and a bakkie occurred on the N4 in Malelane, Mpumalanga, near the Astron Energy fuel station on Friday morning. Now, CCTV footage has emerged shedding light on how the crash unfolded.
According to footage circulating online, the incident began when a bakkie approached an intersection and slowed down, appearing to yield while waiting for a safe gap to turn right. Moments later, as an oncoming side tipper truck drew closer, the bakkie unexpectedly turned right directly into its path.
The truck had no chance to avoid the impact.
The side tipper smashed into the side of the bakkie, sending it spinning off the roadway. The force of the collision caused the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then veered into oncoming traffic.
In a split second, the out-of-control truck ploughed into another side tipper travelling in the opposite direction. The two heavy-duty trucks collided violently, with the first truck crashing into the trailer of the second.
The impact left both trucks badly damaged, highlighting just how quickly a single misjudgement can escalate into a major road incident involving multiple vehicles.
Fortunately, early reports indicate that the truck driver survived the crash, although he sustained injuries. The condition of the bakkie driver has not yet been confirmed.
The incident has once again raised concerns among truck drivers about right-turn behaviour at busy intersections, especially along high-speed routes like the N4. Many in the industry will tell you, taking a gap in front of a loaded truck is a gamble that rarely ends well.
Authorities are expected to investigate the crash further, but the footage already paints a clear picture, one wrong move in front of a heavy rig can turn a normal run into a nightmare in seconds.
Watch the video below:
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