[LIONS RIVER, KZN – 02 SEPTEMBER 2012 AT 13H20]
A truck driver is believed to be in his early thirties is in a serious condition after losing control of his articulated truck on the N3 Pietermaritzburg bound between Balgowen and Lions River this afternoon.
ER24 paramedics along with other emergency personnel arrived on the scene and found the articulated truck virtually upside down, about 10m away from the road side down the embankment. The cabin of the truck was severely damaged in the accident and the driver was severely entrapped inside the wreckage. The Fire Department had to use the Jaws of Life and other rescue equipment to help free the man from the wreckage. While the Fire Department was busy trying to free the man, ER24 paramedics tried to stabilise the condition of the patient. The rescue operation took over four hours to free the patient from the cabin. Once the patient was freed the patient was airlifted to Grey’s Hospital by the Red Cross Air Mercy Medicopter for further medical care.
It is believed that the driver lost control as he was taking the corner of the N3 due to mechanical failure. This caused the truck to go through the Armco barrier and rolled numerous times before coming to a halt at the bottom of the embankment. The local authorities were on the scene and would investigate the accident further.
Photos Taken by ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd.
