5 dead in N1 crash

2009-01-09 18:18

Johannesburg - Five people were killed, two were critically injured and 14 others injured in an accident between a taxi and a car on the N1 highway near Sebokeng on Friday, Netcare 911 paramedics said.

Spokesperson Nick Dollman said the two vehicles collided near the R28 Randfontein road at 06:30, causing the taxi to roll off the highway.

Three men and a woman died on the scene before paramedics arrived. Another critically injured woman died on the scene despite efforts to resuscitate her.

Two people were critically injured with 14 others sustaining a range of different injuries. ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak earlier said three children were among the wounded.

All the injured were taken to Sebokeng and Emfuleni hospitals.

The taxi apparently carried 17 people and the car had four occupants.

In another accident 11 people were injured when a minibus taxi collided with an Opel Corsa on the N3 at the Elands interchange at about 14:00 , Ekurhuleni metro police said.

Spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng said the taxi driver and 10 passengers were rushed to the Natalspruit Hospital with injuries ranging from slight to serious. All three occupants of the Opel were unhurt.

"[T]he preliminary investigation shows that the Opel was stationery in an emergency lane with occupants inside, when the taxi appeared and crashed into it from behind," said Mokheseng.

The taxi was traveling from Germiston to Heidelberg at the time of the accident.

- SAPA