Ten people have been killed and dozens more injured on the R34 near Vryheid in a horiific collision involving a truck and a passenger bus in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed that the crash occurred just after midnight and involved a head-on collision, followed by a devastating sideswipe impact by the truck. The incident has brought traffic to a standstill on the R34 as emergency services continue operations at the scene.
According to a preliminary report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), ten passengers tragically lost their lives in the crash. Their bodies have been transported to the Vryheid Mortuary.
Another ten people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to various hospitals in the area for emergency care. A further twenty-two passengers suffered minor injuries, while six others were fortunate to escape unharmed.
Both the truck and bus drivers survived the crash and have also been taken to hospital for treatment.
MEC Duma has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. “We send our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased. Our thoughts are also with the injured, and we pray for their full recovery,” he said.
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He also noted that authorities are investigating reports that the bus may have been transporting supporters of a political party. “We are working with RTMC and SAPS to establish the full facts. A comprehensive investigation is underway,” Duma added.
The R34 remains closed as of 2am, and road users are urged to avoid the area and exercise patience as emergency services continue their work.
“We have agreed with RTI to work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and SAPS to carry out a full investigation into the cause of this horrific accident,” added Duma.
The road remains closed as of 2am, and motorists are urged to be patient and avoid the area where possible.
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