Three die in horrific N3 crash in KwaZulu-Natal
Three people died, two of whom were burned beyond recognition, after a bakkie collided head-on with a truck on the N3 near Shongweni in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday morning.
Image: Supplied
Three people died, two of whom were burned beyond recognition, in a collision between a bakkie and a truck on the N3 in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday morning.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma confirmed the accident occurred at about 9:10am.
“Just after 9:30am, I received a report from RTI of this accident involving a bakkie and a truck,” Duma said.
The accident took place on the eastbound N3 (Durban-bound) between the M13 bridge and the Shongweni off-ramp.
Duma said the bakkie was allegedly travelling westbound towards Pietermaritzburg when it lost control and collided head-on with a truck travelling towards Durban.
“According to the truck driver, the bakkie came flying from the opposite lane through the centre median and hit his truck just below the windscreen,” he said.
The bakkie was then carried by the momentum into concrete barriers, striking five construction workers from WBHO, who were at the site.
“The bakkie caught fire, and two of the occupants were burned beyond recognition. Somehow, one occupant was thrown from the vehicle,” Duma said.
Among the three occupants, two died inside the vehicle. The truck lost control while trying to avoid the bakkie and ended up in a ditch on the opposite side (Pietermaritzburg-bound), about 100 metres from the road.
The truck driver sustained only minor scratches.
Duma said, “It is unfortunate that this accident comes after we recorded a decrease in fatalities and accidents.”
He said the scene remains active, and the Durban-bound lane is closed for recovery and cleanup operations.
“We wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the three victims of this horrific accident along the N3,” he said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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