OFM News earlier reported that a portion of the N1 road was reopened for traffic following the fatal collision which claimed 13 lives on Monday morning in the Free State. At one stage all lanes were closed for recovery. 

This morning, 11 people died on the scene following a head-on collision between a truck and a minibus taxi — travelling from Gauteng to the Free State — on the N1, about 20km before the Verkeerdevlei Toll Plaza. The latest victim's body was retrieved from underneath the taxi by emergency personnel.

According to the Free State Provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Sipho Towa, two more people were critically injured, and one suffered minor injuries. The patients were transported to the Pelonomi Trauma Hospital in Bloemfontein.

The truck driver is said to have escaped the accident with no injuries, but it's not yet known if the taxi driver is among those who survived or not.

"At about 03:25, Emergency Medical Services were activated after a collision on the N1 between Verkeerdevlei and Winburg. On arrival, they noticed that a truck and a taxi collided head-on and that bodies were lying on the side of the road, with some trapped in the taxi," Towa added.

Motorists are advised to use an alternative route if possible. Authorities are on the scene. This is a developing story.

UPDATE: N1 northbound reopened after collision in Free State
 
A portion of the N1 road was reopened for traffic following the fatal collision which claimed 13 lives on Monday morning in the Free State.

According to the provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Sipho Towa, the N1 northbound has been partially reopened for motorists to pass the scene. Towa says the southbound lanes still remain closed.

Thakeng has since confirmed that the police have now opened a case of culpable homicide.

The truck driver escaped the accident unharmed whilst the taxi driver is among the dead.

OFM News