Nine people, mostly mothers, have been killed in a tragic crash involving a tow truck and a Light Delivery Vehicle (LDV) on the N2 near Empangeni early this Mother’s Day morning, casting a dark cloud over KwaZulu-Natal.
According to emergency responders from KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service, the collision occurred shortly after 06h45, when a tow truck rear-ended a Hyundai H100 truck carrying congregants from the Zion Christian Church.
The vehicle was en route to Dukuduku in Mtubatuba when the devastating impact occurred, just after the Mtunzini Toll Plaza on the northbound carriageway.
When paramedics arrived, they found a chaotic and heartbreaking scene.
“Eight occupants were already deceased when we arrived. We treated sixteen others at the scene – four were in critical condition and twelve had serious injuries,” a spokesperson for the ambulance service said. The injured were transported to local hospitals for urgent care.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, issued a public statement confirming a revised death toll of nine people – mostly women – who died in the crash.
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“Losing a mother is a deeply painful experience that marks a radical change in the life of any family,” Duma said in a heartfelt message.
He added that a dedicated team from his office has been assigned to work closely with the Zion Christian Church and the affected families.
“On this Mother’s Day, we mourn with the church and the families. We wish the injured a speedy recovery and offer our deepest condolences to those who’ve lost loved ones.”
The MEC also confirmed that the Road Traffic Inspectorate has been tasked with conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
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