Two truck drivers have been confirmed dead following a horrific collision involving two side tipper trucks on the N4 near Kroondal, just outside Rustenburg, on Thursday afternoon.
The crash, as SA Trucker reported, occurred in the scorching mid-afternoon heat and resulted in both trucks bursting into flames moments after impact. The intense blaze quickly spread into nearby bush, producing thick clouds of smoke that forced authorities to shut down the N4 in both directions for several hours.
Emergency services responded swiftly, but the fire was so fierce that both drivers were trapped in their vehicles and burnt beyond recognition.
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and local emergency crews were forced to close the road completely while firefighters battled to contain the blaze. Traffic was later redirected to the R104, which also faced temporary closure due to low visibility caused by smoke drifting across the area.
Thursday’s crash brought traffic between Rustenburg and Marikana to a standstill and left the popular mining route choked with delays well into the evening.
Authorities have since reopened the road after clearing the wreckage, but investigations into the exact cause of the collision are still underway.
It’s yet another grim reminder of how quickly things can turn deadly on South Africa’s busy freight corridors.
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