ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak, says both vehicles, one which was a Toyota Venture, were found severely damaged when emergency medical services arrived at the scene of the accident on the R59, just after 7:00 in the morning. 

A woman and the child, who were in one of the vehicles, were declared dead on the scene.

Vermaak explains that the third person who died in the accident was found in the Toyota Venture. 

Two women from the same car were found with critical injuries.

“The ER24 One plan Medical Helicopter was called to the scene to airlift one of the critically injured women to a hospital in Johannesburg. Six other people from the second vehicle sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate. They were treated on the scene and later transported to nearby hospitals for further medical care.”

Vermaak says the circumstances surrounding the incident are not yet known. He says local authorities were on the scene for investigations. 

The police spokesperson for the area is yet to comment on the collision. 

The accident occurred mere days after the launch of the annual Health and Safety campaign led by the Mangaung Road Incident Management System (Rims) at the Shell Ultra Pitstop outside Bloemfontein.

 The theme of the event was “Live the journey, be safe”.

It is here that Free State Health Department Head David Motau expressed concern over the recent spate of accidents. 

Motau said from 1 December 2018 till December 13, the Free State had recorded 28 deaths already.

OFM News