Four people, including a child tragically lost their lives when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with an articulated truck on the R40 between Barberton and Mbombela on Saturday afternoon.
The accident, which occurred around 17:00, involved an articulated truck and an SUV.
According to Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, the SUV driver and three occupants were killed on impact.
The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire, and the victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The truck driver sustained injuries but survived the crash.
Read | CCTV Captures Overtaking Gone Wrong Leading to Fatal R40 Accident
Emergency personnel, along with law enforcement, worked late into the evening to clear the scene and allow traffic to resume.
Motorists were earlier advised to use the R38 via Kaapmuiden as an alternative route while rescue operations were underway.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, which remains unclear at this stage.
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