Three people, including a four-year-old boy, died during a horrific accident, which took place along the Tarentaal- Letsitele road on Tuesday afternoon.

Capt Maano Sadike, the spokesperson for the police in the Mopani area, said that the driver of a Toyota Corolla was on his way from Tzaneen to Letsitele when the accident occurred.

According to the police statement, there was a truck behind the Corolla. When they reached Tarentaal area, the driver of the truck allegedly lost control. The truck hit the Corolla from behind, causing it to overturn several times before landing alongside the road.

The statement further indicates that there were five occupants in the Corolla. Three of the occupants died on the spot while the other two were taken to the nearby Letaba Hospital. The driver was identified as Matome Lucas Matolla (49) from Mowa village in the Bolobedu area.

According to Capt Sadike, Matolla was a member of the South African Police Services (SAPS). He was stationed at the Protea Glen Police Station in the Gauteng Province at the time of his death. The little boy who also died in the accident was identified as Kabelo Lucas Matolla.

The other passenger who died in the crash was a 26-year-old woman, who was still to be identified at the time of going to press. The driver of the truck and his two passengers escaped without injury. The vehicles were severely damaged.