Just in: 12 people killed in petrol tanker and taxi head-on crash in KZN

12 people have been killed in an accident between a fuel tanker and a minibus taxi at the R33 and R614 intersection near Wartburg in KwaZulu-Natal this morning.

As at 09h00 paramedics were still busy on the scene.

ER24 paramedics, along with other services, arrived on the scene and found the taxi upright in the middle of the road while the truck was found on its side on the side of the road.

Fuel has begun to leak from the tanker, spilling onto the road.

Local authorities closed off the road while medics tended to the patients. Several were found lying scattered around the scene while two were found trapped in the taxi.

On assessment, medics found that twelve people had sustained fatal injuries. Nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead.

Six other patients were assessed; two were in s critical condition while four others had sustained minor to serious injuries.

The patients were treated and provided with advanced life support interventions before they were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.

KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert McKenzie said paramedics were busy attending to the injured.

KZN EMS's Robert McKenzie gives an update on the crash near Wartburh this morning, which claimed 12 lives. Two others have also been critically injured after a minibus taxi and a truck carrying disease and petrol tankers, crashed. @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/aGHZ8hXV4V

— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) September 22, 2020

He said the cause of the collision was unknown.

The spillage of petrol and diesel led to a total road closure, McKenzie said.

The road is closed as the scene is still active.