Four die in Joburg accidents

2009-11-22 19:41

Johannesburg - Four people died and eight were injured in road accidents in Johannesburg over the weekend, emergency services said.

Johannesburg Fire and Emergency Management Services spokesperson Percy Morokane said a driver was trapped underneath this vehicle when it hit another vehicle in Malibongwe Drive, in North Riding, at 21:20 on Saturday.

"Indications are that he was not wearing his seat belt... he is in a very critical condition," he said.

The two from the other vehicle suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalisation.

An hour later, on Nasrec Road near Crown Mines, two people died when their vehicle overturned.

Two others were transported to a nearby hospital in a critical condition after being stabilised on the scene.

The cause of the accident had yet to be determined, Morokane said.

At 03:30 on Sunday, a man died when his vehicle overturned on the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and Houghton Drive.

Festive season

"The man was certified dead on the scene by our paramedics. It took our fire-fighters an hour to free his trapped remains from his vehicle," said Morokane

A 32-year-old man died when his car overturned on the N1 highway just before the Malibongwe off-ramp at 04:40.

Three others were critically injured and rushed to hospital.

"Motorists and pedestrians alike are advised to welcome and approach the festive season with caution. To drink, drive and walk may result in a costly situation which can and may not be reversed," he said.

Morokane said emergency services and metro police would soon embark on a festive safety drive.

"The emphasis will be on pedestrian, residential, mall or shopping, water and swimming pool safety," he said.

- SAPA