DZINGAHE – What was supposed to be an enjoyable midnight trip back home turned out to be a horrible experience for five youths who ended up in hospital beds.

Their white Toyota Hilux bakkie overturned at Dzingahe, north of Thohoyandou, on Saturday night. All of them were injured and they were rushed to Tshilidzini Hospital for treatment. The youths, aged between 17 and 25, are residents of the Mphego, Lufule 1 and Hadumasi villages.

When Mirror arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, the injured youths were scattered next to the road in great pain. Their bakkie was badly damaged and bystanders looked in bemusement at the horrible scene.

Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou police said the bakkie was travelling from the direction of Matatshe towards Thohoyandou at approximately 23:10 when the accident happened. “The driver lost control and the bakkie overturned and all the occupants were thrown out of the vehicle. Luckily, no one died but they all sustained serious head, facial and lower body injuries. A case of reckless and negligent driving was registered with the Thohoyandou police and investigations are continuing,” he said.

Raedani said the youths were immediately rescued by members of the emergency services who rushed them to Tshilidzini Hospital. They were still in hospital at the time of going to press.