Following an earlier video post showing the tragic collision on South Coast Road near the Old Airport in Durban, it’s been confirmed that the Actros driver involved lost his life at the scene.
Emergency responders reported that the driver, whose identity has not yet been released, died after being severely trapped in the wreckage of his truck.
Despite efforts to free him, he succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the Hino truck survived the crash, remarkably sustaining only minor injuries.
In the dashcam video, he can be seen being ejected from the cab through the left side of the windscreen upon impact.
It is believed that his ejection from the vehicle helped reduce the severity of his injuries.
The accident, captured on dashcam and shared widely online, has attracted significant attention and comments, with truckers and other road users weighing in on what could have caused the collision.
In the footage, the Actros truck is seen turning right across the intersection, seemingly in the path of the oncoming Hino truck, which was approaching at high speed.
According to some reports, the traffic light had turned red on the Hino driver’s side, likely leading the Actros driver to assume the Hino would slow down or stop.
However, the Hino continued through the intersection, resulting in a catastrophic mid-intersection collision.
The video has sparked debate over road safety, with commenters discussing whether the Actros driver’s turn was premature or if the Hino truck’s speed was the primary cause of the crash.
This tragic incident highlights the risks faced by truck drivers on South African roads.
SA Trucker urges all road users to practice defensive driving at all times to ensure their own safety and that of others.
It’s a harsh reality that, had either driver exercised defensive driving in this situation, the accident might have been avoided.
Defensive driving from the Hino driver’s side would mean approaching the intersection at a reduced speed, while the Actros driver would have ideally turned only after confirming that the approaching Hino had come to a complete stop.
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