Four people have died and eight others injured in a horrific nine-vehicle collision on the R555 near Middelburg on Monday afternoon.

The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said an articulated truck travelling from Middelburg towards Emalahleni seemingly lost control on a downhill slope beneath a railway bridge.

Early reports suggest the truck, which was carrying a massive steel coil, lost its brakes. The heavy coil rolled forward and crashed into oncoming traffic.

“It is alleged that the truck collided with one of the vehicles. Several other vehicles then collided with each other and further crashed into steel that had fallen from the truck,” the department said.

At least one vehicle was almost completely crushed by the steel coil, which remained in the roadway as emergency services worked to free trapped survivors.

Five people sustained serious injuries while three others suffered slight injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals in Middelburg and Emalahleni.

The crash involved nine vehicles in total – the articulated truck, four light delivery vehicles, one SUV and three other motor vehicles.

Emergency services from both Middelburg and Emalahleni responded to the scene, with members of the fire brigade using specialised equipment to extract survivors from mangled wrecks.

Trapped beneath the bridge, motorists had nowhere to escape when the collision occurred.

The R555 remained completely closed on Monday evening while emergency services attended to the injured and cleared the scene.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

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