DURBAN - Preliminary reports into the N2 crash near uMtentweni where five people were killed and several injured have revealed that the driver of one of the vehicles was driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to the Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, preliminary reports have revealed that the driver of the VW Golf involved in the crash lost control of the vehicle while overtaking on the barrier line and collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle along the N2.
Also involved in the crash were a Toyota Condor and a Nissan Navara. Five people were declared dead on the scene and several were critically injured and taken to various hospitals.
“Further investigations have revealed that the driver of the VW Golf was driving under the influence of alcohol which instigated this accident,” the department said.
MEC Peggy Nkonyeni directed traffic law enforcement to reinforced measures on the excessive drinking of drivers following the crash.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said it was alleged that on Sunday at around 4.30pm, four vehicles were involved in a crash along the N2 near uMtentweni Toll Plaza.
“Five people between around 40 and 50-years-old died at the scene,” Mbele said.
“Seven injured persons were taken to a local hospital.”
Mbele said it was alleged that one of the vehicles tried to overtake, and collided with an oncoming vehicle, causing two other vehicles to collide and another to overturn.
MEC Nkonyeni expressed her concerns about road users who continued to ignore the rules of the road.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident, which could have been easily been avoided had the driver adhered to the rules of the road. The department is always preaching the gospel of road safety and those who continue to disobey the rules of the road unfortunately always end with fatal consequences.”
“As we are heading for the festive season, we want to again appeal to road users to be extra cautious and always practise patience when travelling on our roads to avoid such unnecessary deaths. We cannot afford to lose lives due to recklessness and that simply means our law enforcement will be beefed up to hit hard at those who are lawbreakers. Those who continue to break the rules of the road will be dealt with harshly. On behalf of the government, I would like to send my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” Nkonyeni said.
The department said that as the festive season was approaching, it would be “intensifying” the presence of its law enforcement officers on provincial roads to make sure that all motorists adhere to traffic laws.
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