Eight people were killed on the N3 highway in Harrismith when a truck and two Hyundai H100 bakkies collided on Sunday morning.
The accident happened around 07h30 near the Harrismith golf course.
Two other people sustained serious injuries and were transferred to the nearest hospital.
All the deceased persons reportedly died on scene.
Traffic had to be redirected through Harrismith town as the road was closed to allow accident scene experts to collect evidence.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver of one of the bakkies may have fallen asleep while driving and crashed into the truck.
As the truck tried to avoid the first bakkie it crashed into the other bakkie.
All the deceased persons were traveling in the bakkies.
Eight people have been killed on the N3 highway in Harrismith in the #FreeState. The crash involved two bakkies and a truck. All the deceased died on scene. The road has been closed as accident scene experts are combing the area. #sabcnews
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) March 15, 2020
Accident claims eight lives on the N3 outside Harrismith this morning at 07:30. Two people have been referred to the nearest hospital. pic.twitter.com/d7KGX8yLdn
— Mosia Motobatsi (@Collen_Ndobo) March 15, 2020
