A serious multiple vehicle collision occurred this morning on the R44 highway between Stellenbosch and Somerset-West. The collision occurred in the direction of Somerset-West and involved three vehicles namely an Audi cabriolet, a Ford Fiesta and a large flatbed truck.
It is unclear as to how the collision occurred, but it was severe as the Truck and the Ford Fiesta collided head-on obliterating the front end of the Fiesta and causing the truck to overturn. The truck was transporting a total of 35 landscaping workers. As the truck overturned all of the workers were flung off of the flatbed and onto the road.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene, they quickly established the need for extra resources to be dispatched to the location. Multiple Emergency Medical Services including the Provincial Department of Health: Emergency Medical Services and local fire and rescue services attended the scene.
32 of the landscaping workers sustained only minor injuries ranging from multiple scrapes and bruises to lacerations. 3 however sustained more serious injuries and needed to be immobilised to a protective board to prevent any further injury.
All 35 men were treated at the scene before being transported to various hospitals in the surrounding area. The 1 female driver and only occupant of the Ford Fiesta was transported to Vergelegen Medi-Clinic where she was admitted in a stable condition.
Traffic on the R44 was partially disrupted as the left hand lane was closed for safety reasons. Local law enforcement authorities were at the scene and will be investigating the incident further.
Andre Visser, ER24
