The provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Sipho Towa, says the duo died after two trucks, a bus, and a 22-seater minibus collided in the morning. He says the two people were declared dead on the scene. Towa says another person suffered critical injuries and eight people with minor injuries were taken to the Thebe Hospital in Harrismith.

Meanwhile, this accident comes as protesters blocked traffic on the N3 and road users had to be diverted, as protesting truck drivers barricaded the N3 at Harrismith with about 30 trucks. According to the N3 Toll Concession, all Johannesburg-bound traffic is being diverted at Bergville, whereas heavy vehicles are being turned around at Frere. Motorists are requested to exercise caution. Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, previously told OFM News just before midnight on Monday, the group of 30 drivers lined up their trucks in such a manner that the N3 near the Montrose Fuel Station, over 20km outside Harrismith, was completely cordoned off. Makhele says, as a result, traffic eventually lined up in both directions of the demonstration. No violence has been reported and the Public Order Police are on the scene. The bone of contention here is again the recruitment of foreign nationals as truck drivers.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Olebogeng Motse