Two people, including a two-year-old child, died during a horrific accident which took place just before the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnels on the N1-north on Sunday evening.

According to a police statement, the 30-year-old woman and her child were travelling with six other passengers, including the driver, from Zimbabwe to Louis Trichardt when the accident occurred.

Police spokesperson Capt Maano Sadike confirmed on Monday that police are investigating a case of culpable homicide to determine the cause of the accident. He said that no other vehicles were involved and that no certainty exists whether the driver was speeding or just lost control over his vehicle.

The driver of the bakkie lost control shortly after passing through the tunnels en route to Louis Trichardt. The vehicle hit a safety barrier and became airborne, missing a six-foot-high game fence and crashing into the riverbed at the bottom of the embankment.

The woman and child were declared dead on the scene.

The driver and other passengers sustained minor to serious injuries and were taken to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for treatment. At the time of going to press, their condition was unknown.