Five people were involved in a head-on collision on Sunday 6 November on the busy Otto du Plessis drive close to Eerste Steen in Bloubergstrand.
No fatalities were reported.
One driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, says Kevin Jacobs, spokesperson for the City’s traffic service.
According to Jolene Page, media liaison at Community Medics, one of the patients needed to be released from entrapment utilising the “jaws of life”.
“Community Medics received a call of a serious motor vehicle accident on Sunday 6 November at 16:30 on Otto du Plessis Drive close to Eerste Steen in Bloubergstrand. Two of our response vehicles were dispatched and responded to the scene. On arrival, it was found that a Toyota Etios and Renault Megane were involved in a head-on collision with five people in total in the two vehicles,” Page says.
Due to the seriousness of the injuries, a request went out to call in the assistance of two HEMS helicopters.
“On further assessment, the patients were triaged with injuries ranging from critical to minor. Netcare 911 and Air Mercy Services (AMS) who were then activated to assist on the scene,” Page says.
Road closed
However, the well-known road that stretches from Melkbosstrand to Bloubergstrand was closed in both directions due to the accident.
Motorists took to social media saying that 70 km/h is the maximum speed allowed on Otto du Plessis Drive.
“I can just imagine the speed one (or maybe both) of these cars might have been travelling. The festive season is around the corner and we all need to be more vigilant … rather stay at home,” reads a post on Facebook.
Laura Outhet, Table View Neighbourhood Watch (TVNW) media liaison, says a call came over the crime watch radio which was then relayed to their TVNW radio.
“TVNW volunteers were attending another serious motor vehicle accident at the time, some volunteers diverted to this accident. When TVNW volunteers arrived some resources were on the scene already. A number of serious injuries were reported which required serious medical intervention,” Outhet says.
TVNW volunteers took orders from medical staff to close the road in both directions due to the helicopters needing a safe place to land. Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch was also on the scene assisting.
“Despite being a very horrific accident, all organisations worked well together to assist each other in being as efficient as possible to get the people the help they needed. This is the core of what we do – strive to always help where we can,” Outhet says.
Community Medics urged motorists on Sunday to make use of alternative routes and avoid the area.
“We wish all the patients a speedy recovery and thank all the services on the scene for their assistance – fire and rescue, metro rescue, Netcare 911, Ams, CoCT traffic services, law enforcement and the neighbourhood watches,” Page says.
