Two people were killed and two others seriously injured after a truck carrying a mounted drilling machine allegedly suffered a steering lock on the R66 near Gingindlovu in KwaZulu-Natal early on Thursday morning.
According to a preliminary report from the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), the truck was travelling on the R66 towards Eshowe when its steering allegedly locked while it was in motion.
The truck subsequently veered from its lane, resulting in a serious crash approximately 5km past the RTI offices in Gingindlovu.
Two people died in the accident, while another two sustained serious injuries.
The incident comes as prolonged heavy rainfall continues to affect large parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with wet roads, flooding and poor visibility creating hazardous conditions for motorists.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said he received reports from RTI and roving teams at around 4am on Friday as officials monitored conditions across the province.
Duma confirmed that four people had died in two separate crashes involving trucks, including the fatal collision on the N2 near Umkuze that was reported by SA Trucker on Thursday.
The MEC expressed condolences to the families of those killed, while warning that the prevailing weather conditions were contributing to dangerous driving conditions across the province.
The circumstances surrounding the R66 crash, including the reported steering failure, remain subject to investigation.
The incident also highlights the serious consequences that can follow when a heavy vehicle experiences a sudden mechanical failure, particularly on wet roads where a driver has limited room to recover control.
Authorities are continuing to monitor flood-prone areas and other high-risk locations across KwaZulu-Natal as the rain persists.
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