A truck driver has died in a horrific crash at Townhill outside Pietermaritzburg on the N3 on Saturday morning.
Mi7 National Group’s Emergency Medical Services responded to reports of the truck accident on the N3 just after Peter Brown drive at the infamous Townhill.
“Medics found that a truck crashed through a concrete barrier and veered down a steep embankment,” Mi7 reported.
Upon further inspection, it was found that the lifeless body of the driver was entrapped in the wreckage.
The man was declared deceased on scene.
KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesperson Zinhle Mngomezulu said the accident happened at around 8am.
Truck crashes have worringly been a regular occurrence on this stretch of the N3 highway ever since repairs to the road started.
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has blamed the increase in number of crashes to recklessness by truck drivers.
Ravi Ronny, Sanral’s Eastern Region design and construction manager, said the entity’s safety and measures on the affected roads were compliant.
“The recent spate of accidents is caused by driver recklessness and non-compliance with the road signage,” he said.
Sanral says it has undertaken independent road safety audits on the design and construction phases of the current project and implemented all recommended safety measures as well as many additional measures to ensure the construction site is safely maintained for all vehicles.
Ronny said heavy vehicles were required to travel at not more than 40 km/h within the construction zone.
In addition to these restrictions, Ronny said it is also mandatory for all heavy vehicles to undergo a compulsory stop before proceeding down the steep southbound carriageway.
Ronny alleged that truck drivers fail to adhere to the mandatory stop and speed restrictions which then lead to them failing to control their vehicles.
“Brake failure should not be a cause of heavy vehicles losing control on the descent after the compulsory stop as all trucks should be engaged in a low gear and not be using their brakes,” said Ronny.
