Two police officers killed in horror N3 crash
A serious road accident on the N3 near the Marianhill Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal has resulted in the deaths of five people
Image: ALS Paramedics, IOL Graphics
Two police officers were among five people killed in a horrific road crash on the N3 near the Marianhill Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday night.
The crash happened just hours after a major roadblock operation took place on Friday, ahead of the momentous Durban July weekend.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said the crash involved a minibus taxi carrying 17 passengers that veered off the road while trying to avoid a "reckless driver".
"According to our dedicated team from Road Traffic Inspectorate, a minibus taxi carrying 17 passengers, travelling to Ixopo, veered off the road and rolled down 50 meters down the embankment," Duma said in a statement.
The crash happened just hours after a major roadblock operation took place on Friday.
Image: Supplied
"Truck drivers who witnessed the accident have revealed that the taxi driver who was trying to avoid a reckless Polo Driver lost control of his minibus taxi".
Duma added that the RTI team, along with the Durban Metro Police, Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police, will start the process of reconstructing the accident as part of the investigation.
"At this stage, we are trying to locate the families of the deceased. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims," he said.
"Three passengers are in a serious condition. And nine others sustained minor injuries. They have been taken to R.K. Khan Hospital. The scene of the accident is still active. We salute emergency rescue personnel that are working professionally to remove the bodies of the deceased".
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), national road fatality figures for the month of June in previous years were as follows:
- June 2021: 902 deaths
- June 2022: 873 deaths
- June 2023: 833 deaths
- June 2024: 923 deaths
Duma added that law enforcement visibility will continue throughout the weekend and the winter school holidays to help curb the ongoing loss of life on the country's roads.
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