Staff Reporter.
More than 30 vehicles, and a truck, have been involved in a serious collision on the M41 highway in KwaZulu-Natal, heading towards the M4 in Umhlanga.
The multiple vehicle crash took place on the M41 highway in the Umhlanga Ridge area, around 7am on Monday.
eThekwini Metro Police spokesperson Boysie Zungu says the truck driver involved in this morning’s multi-vehicle crash on the M41 in Durban has fled the scene.
It is believed that a truck lost control careening into more than 30 vehicles in bumper-to-bumper, early morning traffic.
Zungu says 16 people were injured, with one airlifted to hospital in critical condition. No fatalities have been reported.
IPSS Medical Rescue’s Samantha Meyrick said they were unable to confirm the exact number of injured.
“There are however no reported deaths at this time.”
A Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance arrived at the scene to airlift a critical patient to a medical facility, while IPSS Medical Rescue took two other critically injured people to hospital.
The road between Umhlanga Ridge and the M4 has been closed, causing severe traffic disruption.
In a separate incident, at least 15 people were left injured in a crash on the the M25 near KwaMashu.
IPSS Medical Rescue paramedics responded to the scene on Monday.
“On arrival of paramedics it was discovered that a taxi had collided with a traffic light pole resulting in four people sustaining severe injuries and a further 11 people sustaining injuries ranging from moderate to minor,” Arrive Alive said in a statement.
“Two of the seriously injured patients were stabilised on scene and transported to hospital under the care of an IPSS Advanced Life Support paramedic. The rest of the patients were treated and transported by various other private services.”
Elsewhere Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha has sent condolences to families who lost loved ones in the horrific crash where at least 16 people were killed on Friday morning.
The crash happened on the R579 in Motetema, near Groblersdal at around 7am on Friday.
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety said the Motetema crash happened when a minibus taxi collided head-on with a truck and another minibus taxi after overtaking unsafely.
Law enforcement officers at the scene on Friday cited reckless driving as a possible cause of the crash.
One of the minibus taxis involved in the crash was transporting learners to school.
The drivers of the two taxis and six learners are among the 16 who died. Four passengers with serious injuries were transported to a nearby health facility for medical attention.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.