The tragedy of a crash survivor turned into a catastrophe when a truck ploughed into the crash scene, killing her and a police officer who was directing traffic on the N1 near Kroonstad on Monday.

The woman survived when the Ford Ranger in which she was a passenger collided with a truck. She was tragically killed moments later at the same place after a truck ploughed into the scene.

The woman, together with a Free State police officer was killed when an Isuzu truck failed to stop in time before crashing into them.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said the police officer, Sergeant Ishmael Morake, was regulating traffic after a white Ford Ranger bakkie and a Volvo truck crashed into each other, 15km toward Kroonstad from Ventersburg.

“The officer, 37, was regulating traffic when a truck came out of nowhere and claimed his life and [the life of] a passenger, 34.”

The woman who died was believed to have been a passenger in the bakkie that was involved in the initial car crash.

According to Kareli, the fatal accident was due to road debris caused by the first accident, which did not have any casualties.

Watch | Taxi ploughes into multi-vehicle crash scene on N2 between Qonce and East London

Kareli said police were investigating two counts of culpable homicide, and no arrests had yet been made.

Free State Police provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, conveyed her condolences to the family of the deceased.

“This morning, we woke up to the sad news of the passing on of one of our members in the line of duty. When police officers leave their homes to report on duty, there is always a possibility that they will not see their loved ones again. The reality of what happened last night hits hard.

“I want to express my deepest condolences to the loved ones, friends, family, and colleagues of the sergeant, as well as to the innocent member of the public.”