LIMPOPO – One person died and 15 sustained injuries in a road accident involving three vehicles on a district route in the Sekhukhune District in Limpopo.

The collision on Friday 24 July on the D1458 Road between Leeufontein and Piet Engelbrecht Trust, a citrus estate, involved two light trucks transporting farm workers and one bakkie.

Emergency services at the scene declared one person deceased, whilst those with injuries were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

This accident was the third known vehicle accident in July in the Sekhukhune District in which people died.

‘Dark cloud hanging over district’

Earlier, a total of 14 people died in two separate vehicle accidents.

The first accident occurred along the R555 Road between Stoffberg and Rossenkraal (also known as Roossenekal) in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality.

The crash involved a Volkswagen Polo, a Toyota Quantum minibus and a truck. This resulted in five passengers dying at the scene. Apparently four members of one family were among the deceased. They were returning from an initiation celebration.

“Recklessness cannot be ruled out, although investigations are under way,” stated Dali Tshifhiwa, media liaison officer of the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, earlier.

The other accident, which involved a VW Polo and a Toyota Tazz, occurred on the D4370 Road from Phokwane to Mamphogo in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality. Four passengers from the VW Polo and five from the Toyota Tazz lost their lives instantly. Another six people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals.

Preliminary investigations revealed that speeding may be the cause, said the media liaison officer.

“The dark cloud is hanging over Sekhukhune District and on behalf of the Department and people of Limpopo, I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said MEC Susani Violet Mathye.

The Department urges drivers to be extra careful at all times, avoid reckless driving and rest after every two hours. Traffic officers will be deployed to monitor hotspots.

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