Scores die in accidents in Jhb, Durban

2011-11-20 07:34

Johannesburg - Five people died and scores others injured in serious car accidents across Gauteng on Saturday evening, paramedics said.

Netcare911 spokesperson Jeffrey Wicks said most of the accidents could be linked to heavy rains.

A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured when the car they were travelling in left Kliprivier Drive in Turffontein and hit a pole.

A 72-year-old woman was critically injured in a five car pile-up on the Ermelo Road R29 in Strubenvale, Springs.

Paramedics believe the man drove his vehicle into oncoming traffic and caused the crash.

The critically injured woman was treated and taken to hospital, Wicks said.

A short while later a man was killed when his car left Robert Broom Drive in the West Rand. The man was thrown from his car and it rolled over him.

A man was killed when his bakkie left the R55 Summit Road near the R511 junction in Midrand after the car rolled repeatedly.

Two people were killed and 12 others were seriously injured when a minibus taxi and a bakkie collided head-on on the R25 near Springs.

Paramedics believe that a fallen tree forced the driver into oncoming traffic.

One occupant of the bakkie and another of the taxi were killed.

Wicks said 10 people were injured, a woman critically, when a minibus taxi overturned on the M8 Christiaan De Wet Drive in Centurion.

Paramedics believe the driver lost control of the minibus while turning a corner.

A spokesperson for Netcare911, Chris Botha, said three people were seriously injured after a taxi and two vehicles collided at the intersection of Umgeni Road and First Avenue in Durban.

Netcare911 paramedics and rescue vehicles arrived at the scene and after stabilising the injured they were taken to hospital.

And in another accident in Durban, a man sustained serious injuries after his vehicle left the road on the N2 south near Spaghetti Junction in Durban.

The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle and smashed into a steep embankment.

Rescue officers cut the injured man from the wreck.

- SAPA