PIETERMARITZBURG 7 May 2012, 23:30
One man has died and two others sustained injuries following a serious collision on the N3 highway in the direction of Durban. The collision occurred in Cato Ridge.
The cause of the collision is unclear at this stage, but a truck being towed by another truck had become stationary at the side of the highway. A third truck then collided with the two trucks as they were stationary.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they could see that the collision was severe judging by the amount of damage sustained to the vehicles involved. Paramedics found three occupants from the truck which collided with the stationary trucks to be in need of medical attention.
One of the occupants from the truck was ejected from the vehicle during impact and found a few meters away from where the initial impact occurred. The man had sustained various serious injuries and his condition continued to deteriorate while receiving treated by paramedics. Rescue workers later initiated resuscitation efforts on the man, but he was unfortunately declared dead at the scene some time later.
A second occupant from the truck was entrapped in the driver’s cabin as bent steel and rubber was pinning the man in the wrecked vehicle. Rescue workers from the local fire and rescue services used specialised hydraulic rescue equipment to cut at the vehicle in order to free the man. He then received treatment at the scene for a broken leg as well as suspected back and neck injuries.
A third occupant from the truck sustained only minor inquires in the collision in the form of minor scrapes and bruises. Both of the men were later transported to a nearby medical facility for further care. No other individuals involved in the collision sustained any injuries. Local law enforcement officials attended the scene and will be investigating the incident further.
Andre Visser, ER24
084 211 2277