VIRGINIA – Two people were killed and four others injured when three vehicles collided at the junction of the R73 and ZR Mahabane Road, near Virginia in the Free State on Sunday, 18 October.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes until further notice. The crash, which occurred around 15:30, has resulted in the temporary closure of the road.

Emergency services, rescue services and law enforcement personnel are at the scene attending to the situation. The cause of the accident, in which four people survived with injuries, remains unclear.

Sipho Towa, chairperson of the Free State’s Road Incident Management System, confirmed that three vehicles collided at the junction of the R73 and ZR Mahabane Road.

“Two people were declared deceased at the scene while the other two sustained moderate injuries and were transported to RH Matjhabeng Hospital by 1Life911,” said Towa. He said emergency services personnel were assessing the condition of two additional survivors at the scene.

Motorists travelling between Welkom and Virginia en route to Theunissen to Bloemfontein are urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes. “Please obey all traffic controls, road closure signage and directions from emergency and law enforcement personnel,” said Towa.

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