Two truck drivers from the same company lost their lives in a harrowing head-on collision on the R34/R66 highway between Vryheid and Melmoth in a devastating accident on Monday morning.
The collision, which occurred near Babanango Game Reserve in the Mpungamhlophe area, involved two side tipper trucks from the same company, both of which erupted into flames upon impact.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 7 a.m. to find the aftermath of the horrific collision.
According to Chantelle Botha, spokesperson for KwaZulu Private Ambulance, the severity of the crash was evident as both vehicles were engulfed in flames.
“Paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found that one patient had succumbed to their injuries before emergency services could arrive,” said Botha.
Tragically, the other truck driver was found severely entrapped within the wreckage.
Despite efforts to extricate him, he also succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The identities of the deceased drivers have not yet been released pending notification of their families.
Watch: CCTV Captures Fiery Head-on Crash on R34 Near Outside Vryheid
The cause of the collision remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.
The loss of two lives in a single incident has sent shockwaves through the trucking community.
The R34/R66 route has seen its share of accidents in the past, prompting calls for increased safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies along this busy highway.
