Four people have lost their lives and eight others have been injured following a devastating multi-vehicle collision on the R555 near Middelburg in Mpumalanga. The crash, which involved nine vehicles, happened on Monday afternoon and prompted a major emergency response.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison confirmed the incident. Emergency personnel declared the four victims dead at the scene.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine exactly what caused the collision.
R555 Crash Near Middelburg Involved Nine Vehicles
The R555 crash occurred after an articulated truck travelling from Middelburg towards Emalahleni allegedly lost control. According to the department, the truck collided with another vehicle before triggering a chain-reaction crash.
Department spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said several other vehicles were subsequently involved in the collision. He added that some motorists also crashed into steel that had fallen from the articulated truck onto the roadway.
The accident involved nine vehicles in total, including the articulated truck, four light delivery vehicles, one SUV and several other motor vehicles.
Eight People Injured In Mpumalanga Collision
The Mpumalanga collision left eight people requiring medical attention. Five of the injured sustained serious injuries, while three others suffered minor injuries.
Mmusi said the injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals in Middelburg and Emalahleni for treatment. Emergency services remained at the scene while authorities managed the aftermath of the crash.
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Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
Deadly Weekend Of Road Crashes Continues
The fatal crash in Mpumalanga comes just a day after another deadly collision claimed six lives in KwaZulu-Natal. The earlier accident occurred on the R34 Memel Road near Newcastle and involved two Volkswagen Polo vehicles.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements, the collision happened between 3:30pm and 4:30pm on Saturday. Road Traffic Inspectorate officers reported that one of the vehicles caught fire following the impact.
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Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said two occupants trapped inside the burning vehicle died at the scene. Four people travelling in the second Volkswagen Polo also lost their lives, while one survivor was taken to hospital.
“It is suspected that two victims travelling in this VW Polo were entrapped and perished instantly.”
