Drivers are feared dead following a horrific crash involving three container trucks on the N3 Durban-bound, between Villiers and Vrede, near the Frankfurt interchange.
The serious accident happened late last night around 22h10 and left seasoned truckers at the scene deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction.
Early information suggests the crash occurred in a pile-up sequence, where one truck rear-ended another, followed shortly by a third truck crashing into the wreckage.
When the dust settled, the centre truck was left standing on top of the first truck, with the lower vehicle’s cab appearing completely flattened beneath the weight. The scene raised immediate fears for the driver of the crushed cab, with fellow drivers expressing concern that he may not have made it out alive.
The third truck involved also suffered severe damage to its cab, leading to further fears for that driver’s safety.
At the time of reporting, no official confirmation has been issued regarding fatalities or injuries.
Both Durban-bound lanes of the N3 were closed as emergency services rushed to the scene to assess the situation, assist any survivors and begin recovery operations.
The closure caused significant disruption to overnight freight traffic, with trucks backing up along the route as responders worked under difficult conditions.
Videos from the scene show the sheer force of the impact, highlighting once again the dangers of heavy vehicle pile-ups on high-speed freight corridors, particularly at night when visibility and reaction times are reduced.
Read | Dashcam Shows How a Car and a Truck Swerved into Each Other in Fatal N3 Crash
Authorities have not yet released details on what may have caused the crash, and an investigation is expected to follow once the scene has been fully cleared.
At 06h00 the N3TC wrote, “Recovery is in progress. #DurbanBound remains obstructed, traffic utilizing contra flow on the #JoburgBound.”
This is a developing story. More information will be shared as soon as it becomes available and has been officially confirmed.
Watch the video below.
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