In a highly unlikely coincidence, a passenger recording his driver while navigating the N3 northbound at Van Reenen captured the terrifying moment when a tanker truck, travelling in the opposite direction, jackknifed and nearly collided with the truck he was riding in.
The incident occurred on Thursday, 19 December 2024.
The passenger was in the right place at the right time, capturing an event that would have been very difficult to explain without the footage.
As the video begins, the passenger films his driver navigating the wet, slippery roads in the pass.
When he swings the camera to capture the road ahead, a tanker truck can be seen swerving uncontrollably before jackknifing.
The driver of the filming truck quickly reacts, slowing down to avoid a collision with the out-of-control tanker.
The tanker truck continues toward them, coming to a halt just a few metres away.
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The driver of the filming truck must be applauded for his decision to stop because if he didn’t, the two vehicles would have collided given where it stopped.
Wet roads, particularly on a steep incline like Van Reenen Pass, can drastically affect a truck’s traction, making it far harder to control a heavy vehicle.
This rare occurrence highlights how unpredictable road conditions can be, even when a driver is taking all the right precautions. If not for the timely capture by the passenger, this shocking moment could have easily been lost to history. Instead, it serves as a crucial visual reference, underscoring the dangers of wet roads on the notoriously tricky Van Reenen Pass.
Given that the trucker loses control just after finishing a bend, what do you think caused the jackknife?
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