[KROONSTAD, FS, 8 November 2012, 06:00]
Two people have died and two others sustained minor injuries only following a head-on collision between two trucks on the N1 highway outside Kroonstad this morning.
The cause of the collision is unclear at this stage, but ER24 paramedics who were returning from a call noticed a thick cloud of smoke while driving on the highway and rushed to investigate. Upon arriving at at the scene paramedics found that two trucks had collided head-on and both were engulfed in flames.
There were two occupants in each truck. The two occupants in the one vehicle were ejected upon impact while the two occupants from the other truck had become trapped as the drivers cab collapsed inward around them. Both trucks then started to burn. The two occupants who had become entrapped in the truck had unfortunately perished in the blaze.
The two occupants from the other vehicle were found walking close to the scene and had sustained minor injuries only in the form of various scrapes and bruises. Both men received treatment at the scene before being transported to a hospital in Kroonstad for further treatment.
The N1 highway was closed for traffic in both directions while fire personnel attended to the fire. Local law enforcement officials attended the scene and will be investigating the cause of the collision further.
Andre Visser, ER24
084 211 2277