N1 junction claims another four

The Soutpansberg mountain pass claimed another four lives on Monday morning, March 10, when a runaway truck collided with a minibus taxi at the N1/Witvlag turn-off.

The truck driver escaped injury, while the surviving 13 passengers in the taxi were rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital. Eight of them were in a critical condition on Tuesday.

Louis Trichardt police spokesperson Capt Maano Sadike said the Zalawi truck, transporting copper concentrate, was travelling in a convoy along the N1 south when the truck’s brakes failed down the steep mountain pass. In an effort to avoid crashing into the vehicles travelling in front of the truck, the driver of the truck turned into the newly built "slipway" onto the Witvlag Road, colliding semi-head-on with the taxi that was approaching the T-junction from the opposite side. The impact spun the taxi around, killing the driver and three other passengers.

Police, traffic police and emergency services were at the scene within minutes. As the injured were taken from the wreck of the taxi, bystanders remarked that it was a miracle that more people did not die.

Capt Sadike, who attended the scene of the horror crash, said that the accident was a sad and unfortunate way to start the week. He urged motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling and to stay alert at all times.

News - Date: 14 March 2008

Riaan de Swardt

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