Eight people have died in a devastating collision involving a minibus taxi and a truck at a stop street intersection near Fochville in the North West Province.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Friday morning at the intersection of the R500 and R54 near Potchefstroom, leaving emergency services dealing with a severe multi-fatality scene.
According to preliminary reports from authorities, the minibus taxi was travelling from Fochville towards Parys when it collided with a manganese truck at the intersection. The truck was reportedly travelling between Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark at the time of the crash.
Authorities allege that the truck failed to stop at the stop street, resulting in the collision that claimed multiple lives instantly.
Eight occupants of the minibus taxi were killed in the impact. The deceased include six men and two women, one of them a female child. Five other passengers sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Emergency services, traffic officers and police spent several hours at the scene clearing wreckage, securing the intersection and assisting injured survivors while investigators began reconstructing the events leading up to the crash.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation confirmed that a specialised crash investigation team has been deployed under the instruction of CEO Adv. Makhosini Msibi. The South African Police Service has also opened a formal case and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Officials say the investigation will focus on vehicle movements at the intersection, possible visibility challenges, and whether driver behaviour or road conditions contributed to the crash.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers at rural intersections along key freight and commuter corridors, where heavy vehicles and public transport frequently share high-risk routes, especially during early morning hours.
Authorities have urged motorists to reduce speed when approaching intersections, remain alert in low visibility conditions, and exercise extra caution during winter driving periods when fog and mist can reduce reaction time.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, pending formal identification and family notifications. Investigations are continuing.
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