This is according to the spokesperson at the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the province, Sipho Towa. He told OFM News' Pulane Choane that in one accident, between a taxi and a truck, six fatalities were reported.

In a separate incident late last night, traffic on the N1 national road near the Koppies offramp, about 20 km from Kroonvaal Engen garages, was affected following an accident where a truck that was transporting gas bottles overturned and caught fire. The driver managed to escape unharmed. Emergency services were are at the scene but unable to put out the fire immediately or come closer for fear that the truck might explode. OFM News has learned that this morning the road surface is damaged, and incoming lanes will be used to regulate traffic resulting in one lane available in each direction.

Meanwhile, the two accidents in which eight people died in the Free State this morning now bring the death toll from road accidents in the province - which have occurred since the start of the festive season - to more than 30. OFM News earlier reported that Chief Director of Traffic Management in the province, Nako Ramotsoto, revealed that since December 1, close to 20 motorists have been arrested for driving drunk on Free State roads. Ramotsoto said drunk driving is one of the major contributors to accidents on roads across the country. He further said that the department has also noticed that since the festive season kicked off, many of the accidents have been head-on collisions which they blame on speeding and overtaking on barrier lines, especially on the solid lines where the road is obscured and motorists cannot see oncoming traffic properly.

OFM News