A road crash involving a light delivery vehicle and a truck on the N1 between Edenburg and Bloemfontein in the Free State on Sunday claimed the lives of ten people whilst four people were also injured.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicles collided head on resulting in the light delivery vehicle, which was carrying 14 occupants and a trailer, overturning. Ten (10) people in the light delivery vehicle were killed instantly and (four) 4 of the occupants suffered injuries. The injured were taken to hospitals in the Bloemfontein area.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), a State Owned Company of the Department of Transport, dispatched a team of crash and incident reconstruction and investigation experts to determine the cause of this crash.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has sent her sincere and deep felt condolences to the families of victims of a fatal road crash that took place between Edenburg and Bloemfontein in the Free State province around 06:00 on Sunday morning.
Peters said, “I am deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence and I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families, the friends and relatives of those who lost their loved ones and wish those who are injured a speedy recovery. Our investigation team must leave no stone unturned and get to the bottom of what really happened that resulted in this horrific occurrence. Ours must be an unwavering and relentless fight against the carnage on our roads.
“We have to speak strongly against conduct that borders on recklessness and failure to act responsibly, especially when there are other passengers in the vehicle. Drivers who endanger passengers and other motorists’ lives do not belong on our roads. Even though we cannot, at this stage, pronounce on the circumstances around this crash, it remains crucial that to warn our motorists that barrier lines, road construction sites and areas of poor visibility are enough signs not to overtake, no matter what make your vehicle is or how fast it can drive. “
Minister Peters has also called on motorists and all road users to be vigilant at all times and to observe all the rules of the road in the country.