Eleven people died in two crashes on Eastern Cape roads at the weekend and 18 others were seriously injured.
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea said among those who died in both accidents had been people on their way to attend funerals.
The first accident happened at about 4.50am on Saturday when two vehicles collided along the N2 between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet.
“A Toyota Quantum taxi and Toyota Corolla sedan which were travelling in opposite directions collided head-on, killing nine people,” he said.
“All the four occupants of the Corolla died and five others – including a child – died in the taxi.”
Machaea said four other occupants in the minibus, including the driver, were rushed to hospital in serious condition.
“The passengers in the taxi were travelling from Graaff-Reinet to a funeral in Lady Frere and those in the Toyota Corolla were family members and they include a child, but some are not using the same surname.
“Jaws of life were use to retrieve the bodies in the taxi,” he said.
Machaea said forensic investigators were brought from Pretoria to the scene yesterday to investigate the accident further.
Speaking about the other accident, Machaea said a bakkie ferrying mourners from Mampingeni village to Blekana village in Mqanduli overturned along the T29 road between Coffee Bay and Mqanduli, killing two people. It left 14 others critically injured.
“The driver was trying to overtake another vehicle when he lost control of the bakkie and it overturned. One of the injured was airlifted ,” he said.
Machaea said in both incidents the drivers had been overtaking vehicles when the accidents occurred.
He said fatigue might have also played a role, but it was not yet clear what happened.
Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana has conveyed messages of condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those hospitalised.
Tikana expressed concern over the behaviour of drivers, saying it was worrying that every weekend had become “a tradition” that people died in road accidents.
“Both accidents were not mechanical faults, but caused when the driver was doing something. Drivers need to understand that the lives of their passengers and even those of other drivers are at their mercy.
“They must understand that it is their responsibility as drivers to ensure that their passengers arrive at their destinations safely,” said Tikana. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
11 killed, 18 injured in two accidents
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea said among those who died in both accidents had been people on their way to attend funerals.
The first accident happened at about 4.50am on Saturday when two vehicles collided along the N2 between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet.
“A Toyota Quantum taxi and Toyota Corolla sedan which were travelling in opposite directions collided head-on, killing nine people,” he said.
“All the four occupants of the Corolla died and five others – including a child – died in the taxi.”
Machaea said four other occupants in the minibus, including the driver, were rushed to hospital in serious condition.
“The passengers in the taxi were travelling from Graaff-Reinet to a funeral in Lady Frere and those in the Toyota Corolla were family members and they include a child, but some are not using the same surname.
“Jaws of life were use to retrieve the bodies in the taxi,” he said.
Machaea said forensic investigators were brought from Pretoria to the scene yesterday to investigate the accident further.
Speaking about the other accident, Machaea said a bakkie ferrying mourners from Mampingeni village to Blekana village in Mqanduli overturned along the T29 road between Coffee Bay and Mqanduli, killing two people. It left 14 others critically injured.
“The driver was trying to overtake another vehicle when he lost control of the bakkie and it overturned. One of the injured was airlifted ,” he said.
Machaea said in both incidents the drivers had been overtaking vehicles when the accidents occurred.
He said fatigue might have also played a role, but it was not yet clear what happened.
Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana has conveyed messages of condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those hospitalised.
Tikana expressed concern over the behaviour of drivers, saying it was worrying that every weekend had become “a tradition” that people died in road accidents.
“Both accidents were not mechanical faults, but caused when the driver was doing something. Drivers need to understand that the lives of their passengers and even those of other drivers are at their mercy.
“They must understand that it is their responsibility as drivers to ensure that their passengers arrive at their destinations safely,” said Tikana. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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