Today (16 July) at around 6:45 a taxi travelling on the M1 North between the Marlboro and Woodmead off ramps is suspected to have lost control and collided with a Toyota Yaris.
Terence Teixeira from the Matrix Road Safety Association reported from the scene saying the taxi then rolled coming to a stop next to the highway. “We were among the first vehicles on scene and the onboard Emer-G-Med medic immediately began to assess and treat patients with fellow Emer-G-Med paramedics on scene,” he says
Eighteen patients were identified, three were in a critical condition, of which one was airlifted to hospital, and one person travelling in the taxi was declared dead on scene. “The injured were promptly stabilised and treated by paramedics and transported to hospital by Emer-G-Med ambulances and other emergency services. The accident is under police investigation,” he adds.
Teixeira says that drivers using highways need to be extra vigilant and cautious, adhering to speed limits and following distances at all times. “We see numerous accidents every week on our highways. Many of these are as a result of speeding, people trying to overtake at high speeds, drivers not allowing an adequate following distance, and vehicles that are not roadworthy travelling on the highways. If you notice a reckless driver on the highway, try to back off and change lanes avoiding the driver. Also remember to always wear your seatbelt.”
He points out that most drivers are unaware that if they are involved in a crash and are not wearing a seatbelt, there are actually three crashes that take place and it’s the third one that usually kills people.
“The first crash is as the vehicle collides with the solid object or oncoming vehicle and then comes to a sudden stop. The second crash quite simply is, the vehicle has stopped suddenly, but the occupant/s are still moving. The windscreen, dashboard, steering wheel and other parts of the vehicle’s interior, stops them. Then the third crash takes its toll. The human body has stopped but the internal organs have not. So there is an ‘internal’ crash that causes the vital organs to rupture and often results in death. Speak to paramedics about this, it is quite an eye opener,” he concludes.
For more information on the Matrix Road Safety Association visit www.matrix.co.za.