A truck driver has been killed and another left critically injured following a head-on collision between two heavy vehicles on the N4 near the Waterval Boven Tunnel on Friday afternoon, April 25.
The crash occurred between the Waterval Boven Tunnel and the Five Arch Bridge in the Elands Valley area, a stretch well known among long-distance drivers for heavy traffic and tight conditions. Emergency services arrived on scene to find one driver fatally injured, while the second driver was stabilised before being transported to hospital in a serious condition.
The severity of the collision forced a full closure of the N4, with the road shut down for more than seven hours as recovery teams worked to clear the wreckage and secure the scene.
According to the N4 toll operator, traffic volumes were already high due to payday, back-to-back long weekends, and ongoing school holidays, putting additional pressure on the route. With both directions forced into a single lane during recovery operations, long queues quickly built up, leaving motorists stranded for hours.
Officials confirmed that while stop-and-go sections were in place, the primary cause of the backlog was the fatal crash and the limited access through the affected area. Frustrations on the road reportedly escalated, with some motorists behaving recklessly, further complicating traffic control efforts.
As of Saturday morning, recovery operations were still underway, with parts of the route remaining closed. Authorities have urged motorists to use the Schoemanskloof route as an alternative and to expect delays.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Truck drivers travelling this corridor are once again being reminded of the risks along the N4, especially through mountain passes where visibility, traffic flow, and driver fatigue can quickly turn dangerous.
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