Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says in a statement that the officials were injured following a multiple vehicle collision between two trucks and other private and state vehicles on Tuesday. It is said that a truck rammed into a Chrysler, and later a second truck allegedly rammed into the first truck and other vehicles on the first accident scene, which included a police van, traffic vehicle and an Intertoll vehicle. Following the accident, an Intertoll official allegedly passed away. Eight people - including two police officials, two paramedics, and a tow-truck driver - sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate, while one person sustained serious injuries. Meanwhile, the police are now probing a case of culpable homicide after the accident.

Makhele says the Chrysler was stuck underneath the truck following the collision which occurred on the N1 60 kilometres from Kroonstad in the direction of Johannesburg at to the Koppies offramp.

“An Intertoll official died, and two police officers were slightly injured, the tow truck driver and two EMS members were taken to hospital. The details of those who died are not yet known. The driver of the other truck was trapped in the truck. Identities of those who lost their lives will be made known after they have been formally identified and the next of kin are informed,” Makhele adds.

Meanwhile, ER24 spokesperson, Ineke van Huyssteen, says when ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 13h00, they found another medical service, EMS, already in attendance. The truck driver had already been transported and the emergency services were busy extricating patient, who had unfortunately sustained fatal injuries, from the vehicle.

“Shortly after leaving the scene, ER24 paramedics were dispatched back to the scene where a secondary collision had ensued after a truck drove into the primary scene. Upon further assessment, it was found that one person had sustained fatal injuries. Eight people sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate, while one person sustained serious injuries,” Ineke van Huyssteen adds.

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