The tragic accident involving a truck and a minibus at Van Reenen’s Pass on Monday night, which left 17 people dead, has taken a new turn as preliminary investigations exonerate the truck driver. Dashcam footage revealed that the minibus lost control and veered into the truck’s lane, causing the collision.
Authorities have confirmed that the truck driver, a Zimbabwean national, contacted his employer shortly after the crash and subsequently disappeared from the scene.
Investigators are examining heavy rainfall, excessive speed, vehicle defects, and potential driver recklessness on the part of the minibus driver as possible contributing factors.
In a detailed report, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, confirmed that the accident claimed the lives of seven men, three women, three boys, and four girls. A single survivor, a baby girl, is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
A technical team, led by Head of the Department of Transport Siboniso Mbhele, along with the Road Traffic Inspectorate, South African National Road Agency, and South African Police Service, convened on Tuesday under the leadership of Major General Gonya to investigate the incident.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has instructed the team to visit the recovering baby in hospital.
“We are comforted by her recovery and thank health professionals for their dedicated care. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” Duma said.
The minibus, affiliated with the Uncedo Taxi Association, was travelling from Qumbu in the Eastern Cape to Johannesburg at the time of the crash. Duma stated that the families of the deceased have been identified and arrangements are being made for them to travel to Ladysmith for formal identification.
Duma also addressed speculation surrounding the truck driver’s disappearance, confirming that he has been identified as Mr. N. Mbedezi, a 37-year-old from Zimbabwe.
“Video footage clearly shows the minibus lost control and swerved into the truck’s lane, leading to a head-on collision,” Duma explained. The truck was heading south toward Durban, while the minibus was traveling north toward Johannesburg.
Read | Jackknifing Truck Comes Dangerously Close to Colliding with Another on Van Reenen – Video
The exact cause of the minibus losing control remains unknown, though heavy rainfall, speed, vehicle defects, and driver error are all under investigation.
Duma expressed concern about the truck driver’s disappearance, questioning how he managed to leave the scene in such a remote area at night.
Additionally, Duma noted a secondary incident involving a silver Renault Clio. The vehicle struck bodies flung from the minibus during the crash, but the two occupants were unharmed.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to uncover more details surrounding the tragedy.
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