N12, North West 02 June 2013
Sunday night saw multiple fatal collisions taking place on the N12 in the North West.
At around 20:00, a collision between two bakkies took place on the N12 direction Klerksdorp, approximately 6 kilometres from Potchefstroom. Upon arrival of paramedics, they found the two bakes extensively damaged, and all of the occupants outside the vehicles leaving paramedics suspecting that most of the patients had been ejected following the impact.
Sadly, two adults and a three year old little boy lost their lives in the accident and they were found lying on the ground having sustained multiple and fatal injuries. Paramedics declared them dead on scene with nothing further that could be done to save their lives.
A further 11 patients were treated by paramedics at the scene and transported by ambulance to locals hospitals for care of minor and moderate injuries.
As paramedics were handing over their patients at the Potchefstroom Provincial hospital, they received another call for them to immediately return to the scene of the collision. Police had remained at the scene for forensic purposes and as they were flagging down motorists to re route them through Ikageng, another bakkie did not stop and it crashed through the scene of the first accident.
Fortunately none of the officials on scene were injured, but the bakkie collided into a state vehicle and the impact was so severe that the driver and only occupant of the bakkie was killed in the collision. The man in his 30’s was declared dead by paramedics having been found trapped inside the wreckage of his vehicle.
Around 23:00 paramedics were again called out to the N12, this time for a collision that had taken place in the direction of Johannesburg approximately 25 kilometres outside of Potchefstroom.
According to reports from the scene, a group of people were attempting to cross the highway and a light motor vehicle then collided into one of them. Sadly, as a result of the impact, the young man in his 20’s did not survive and he was declared dead on scene. Fortunately the occupants of the light motor vehicle were not injured in the collision.
Around the same time, Carletonville paramedics were also called out to the scene of a fatal collision. A Toyota Auris and Chrysler Voyager had collided head on and into on another at the N12 Fochville 4-way stop.
When they arrived on scene they found the crushed remains of the Auris at the side of the road and due to the extensive damage to the vehicle, two of the passengers had not survived their injuries. The two women who, one sitting behind the other, did not survive the extensive injuries that they sustained and both women in their late 30’s were declared dead on scene.
Three other adults and two children were transported to hospital from the scene for treatment of their injuries in hospital.
Authorities who attended the respective incidents will be determining the cause and investigating all necessary details pertaining to the crashes.
Vanessa Jackson
ER24