Eight soldiers died in a horror smash on the N3 between Montrose and Van Reenen at around 05h00 this morning. Details to the cause of the accident is still speculative, but three heavy goods trucks and an SANDF mini bus collided at high speed.
When paramedics arrived on scene they found the mangled wreckage of the mini bus on its side trapped between two of the heavy goods trucks. Emergency personnel had to use the Jaws of Life to free the wounded from the wreckage.
A total of 15 people were injured sadly 7 of the military personnel died on scene due to the severity of their injuries. 2 Others sustained critical injuries – one of them a female that was 4 months pregnant and 6 others sustained serious injuries .
Paramedics worked fervently to stabilize al the wounded before transporting them to a hospital in Bethlehem for further treatment. Tragically one of the critically injured patients died soon after his arrival at the hospital.
Chris Botha
Netcare 911