The N3 southbound at Town Hill in Pietermaritzburg has been shut down for an extended period following a major collision between two trucks just after the Peter Brown Drive bridge on Friday afternoon.
According to the Road Traffic Inspectorate’s Colin Govender, the crash has brought traffic to a standstill, causing widespread delays and heavy congestion.
“We are diverting traffic at Peter Brown through the Pietermaritzburg CBD. All the trucks are being stacked currently,” Govender explained. “This scene is going to take quite a while to clear up, and we are going to go well into the evening before this road is reopened.”
The crash scene has turned chaotic, with one truck reportedly spilling hundreds of oranges across the highway, while the other was transporting a load of green powder identified as cobalt.
Emergency services, including fire and hazmat teams, have cordoned off the area due to potential health risks.
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“The fire services are still trying to establish how severe this product is to the normal person who will be infected with the breathing in of this powder,” said Govender. “So right now the scene is being cordoned off.”
One of the truck drivers has been taken to the hospital with injuries. The extent of the injuries is still unknown.
Motorists are advised to avoid the N3 southbound and seek alternative routes. Truckers heading toward Durban are being warned of long delays and are encouraged to plan accordingly.
More updates will follow as clean-up operations continue into the night.
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