[Barberton 06 January 2012 10:00]
A bakkie towing a trailer suddenly left the R40 approximately 4 kilometers form Mediclinic Barberton and crashed through the barriers and rolled down a 200 meter embankment. Paramedics on the scene said that it was difficult to determine what vehicle had been involved in the accident as the damage to it was so extensive.
The two men who had been sitting in the front cabin of the bakkie had been killed in the accident. They were trapped in the wreckage and had died due to extensive injuries. The other 7 people who were travelling on the bakkie were flung from the vehicle and 2 of the men were in a serious condition. Although stable on scene, their conditions deteriorated later after arriving at hospital and they would require further intensive treatment. The remaining 5 occupants suffered minor injuries and all of the patients were taken to the Barberton Provincial Hospital for further care.
The reason that caused the driver to lose control of his vehicle which then rolled will need to be investigated by the necessary authorities who attended the scene.
Vanessa Jackson, ER24