[VAALPARK, FS, 23 November 2012, 17:00]
Three people have died and five other individuals have sustained serious injuries following a six vehicle pile-up on the R59 in Vaalpark this afternoon.
The events leading up to the collision is unclear, but a single vehicle had allegedly veered out of control before veering into oncoming traffic. What followed was a six vehicle pileup. Various vehicles had sustained substantial damage and one vehicle had overturned onto its side.
ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene and found that three men from two different vehicles had sustained various fatal injuries. All three men, aged between the ages of 25 and 35, were later declared dead at the scene.
One other man was entrapped in his vehicle. Local fire and rescue personnel used hydraulic rescue equipment to cut the vehicle in order to free the patient. The man then received Advanced Life Support treatment at the scene for a severely broken arm, suspected back and neck injuries as well as a chest injury.
The remaining four patients had all sustained various injuries ranging from suspected back and neck injuries to various cuts and bruises. All of the patients received treatment at the scene before being transported to various hospitals in the surrounding area.
Traffic on the road was affected while the various rescue and Emergency Medical Services attended the scene. Local law enforcement officials attended the collision and will be investigating its cause further.
Andre Visser, ER24