The N3 outbound out of Pietermaritzburg, near Nottingham Road off ramp, has been closed to traffic after five consecutive accidents occurred earlier in the evening.
ER24 paramedics initially responded to an accident where two trucks and two cars had collided, leaving a large amount of debris on the road. Even though both cars were severely damaged, none of the occupants of any of the four vehicles had sustained any injury.
Within the next hour, paramedics responded to four more accidents, on the N3, within a kilometer of the first accident. Multiple trucks and multiple cars were involved, and again, despite severe impact and damage to the vehicles, miraculously there were no injuries reported on any of the scenes.
The highway did however, need to be closed for clean up operations, and the traffic was redirected onto the R103.
Within two hours of the first accident, and after the traffic had been redirected, ER24 paramedics responded to and accident on the R103 where a taxi had collided into the roadside barrier. Fortunately none of the occupants were seriously injured, but fifteen people were transported to hospital with minor to moderate injuries. Their injuries ranged from possible back and neck injuries to minor scrapes and bruises.
It remains unclear as to why the accidents had occurred and how long the N3 will be closed, but the necessary authorities are dealing with the situation.
Vanessa Jackson
ER24