Mbombela – Two truck drivers have tragically lost their lives after a devastating head-on collision involving two side tipper trucks on the N4 Northern Bypass on Tuesday evening, September 23, 2025.
The crash happened just before the R37 turn-off, forcing authorities to completely shut down the busy route in both directions.
According to Emer-G-Med spokesperson Martin Jeffrey, emergency teams were dispatched to the scene at around 20:15. On arrival, they found both drivers trapped in the mangled wreckage.
“One of the trucks was loaded and the other was empty. Sadly, both drivers succumbed to their injuries and were declared dead at the scene,” Jeffrey confirmed. He described the crash site as “absolute chaos,” with emergency crews working under pressure to recover the bodies.
Rescue teams are currently using the jaws of life to extricate the drivers before the wreckage can be cleared. The process is expected to take several hours.
The collision has caused heavy disruptions, and motorists travelling towards Malalane and Barberton are urged to seek alternative routes to avoid being stuck in the backlog.
This comes after SA Trucker earlier reported that fellow drivers at the scene had feared the worst when they could not locate the drivers following the crash. Sadly, those fears have now been confirmed.
It has since been confirmed that trucks from 4PL and Freight Logistics were involved in the tragic crash.
Our condolences go out to the families of the deceased truckers.
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