A serious collision occurred this morning on the M13 highway in the direction of Pinetown. The cause of the collision is still unknown, but it involved one flatbed, 18-wheeler truck.
The driver of the truck had allegedly lost control of the vehicle whilst coming around a corner near the suburb Gillitts. The truck then veered out of control on the highway crossing both lanes before crashing through the centre median. The truck then crossed the opposite side of the highway miraculously missing all oncoming traffic. Finally the truck crashed through the opposite barrier before overturning and coming to a stop in a residential back yard.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they could see that the collision was severe judging by the amount of damage sustained to the vehicle. There were 2 occupants in the truck. Both men were ejected from the driver’s cabin as the vehicle overturned.
The passenger was found a few meters away from the wreck. The man had sustained severe injuries to various parts of his body and was in a critical condition. Paramedics then treated the passenger at the scene. The man was then transported to hospital by another ambulance service.
The driver of the truck was found pinned under the wrecked vehicle. Local fire and rescue services used specialised hydraulic rescue equipment to cut away pieces of the truck in order to free the man. The man had sustained severe injuries and paramedics had to perform Advanced Life Support intervention on the patient.
Both men were transported to the Albert Luthuli hospital where they were admitted in a critical condition. Local law enforcement authorities were at the scene and will be investigating the incident further.
Andre Visser, ER24