Three separate vehicle accidents occurred within a 24-hour period on the notorious R31 road in the Northern Cape, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.
The first accident, 5km from Barkly West and close to Pniel, took place on Sunday, 6 April, at approximately 16:35, says Lt. Col Sergio Kock, police spokesperson. This accident happened when an Isuzu mini-truck reportedly overturned. Both male occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital for medical treatment. A case of reckless and negligent driving has been registered.
Roughly an hour later, at around 17:30, a second collision occurred on the R31 near Gong-Gong, where it is alleged that an Audi and a BMW collided with a truck.
The truck overturned and came to a standstill on its side in the middle of the road. Each vehicle had a single male occupant.
The driver of the Audi was declared deceased on the scene, while the drivers of the BMW and the truck sustained injuries and were taken to hospital. The road was closed to traffic until approximately 03:00 on Monday. A culpable homicide investigation is underway by the police in Barkly West.
The third incident occurred on Monday, at about 05:30, approximately 15km outside Barkly West on the R31. A stationary truck, which had reportedly broken down on the roadside, was struck by another truck. The driver and passenger of the second truck sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital for medical treatment. A case of reckless and negligent driving has been registered.
The road was reopened at approximately 09:30 on the day, says Kock.
Vehicles accidents take place regularly on this raod. Only a few of the many accidents include:
- Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) died on Friday afternoon, 7 February this year, when the SANDF truck they were traveling in, overturned on the R31 road between Koopmansfontein and Delportshoop.
- On 28 February 2023, 13 people were injured when the minibus they travelled in, overturned on this road.
- On 16 July 2023, nine persons lost their life in a head-on collision between a minibus and a VW Polo. Three were children. Another 11 were admitted to hospital with serious injuries.
- In August 2023, one person was killed and 20 others injured when a minibus and a light motor vehicle collided head-on on the R31.
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