ROODEPOORT – William Nicol Road North, 14 June 2013 at 14:00
A horrific collision claimed the lives of three people this afternoon in Floracliff, Roodepoort.
Shortly before two o’clock chaos ensued when emergency staff at the Life Flora Clinic heard a loud crash almost on their casualty’s doorstep. Doctors, Nurses and paramedics rushed to the scene where they found mangled pieces of metal from cars and a 22-wheeler truck that was lying into their parking lot.
Over 20 vehicles were involved in this collision and multiple people sustained critical injuries. Those that were able to walk and not trapped were quickly rushed into the casualty for emergency care. Medical and rescue services from numerous services arrived on the scene and tried to make sense of the incident. Some of the vehicles were completely ripped open by the truck dragging it along the road.
Two people sustained fatal injuries on the scene and another died later in hospital. It is understood that 22 people were injured in this collision.
The exact cause is not yet known and will be investigated by numerous Forensic Specialists that arrived on the scene. A bystander explained that the truck was traveling from Ontdekkers Road down William Nicol North Drive when it collided with stationary vehicles at the intersection of Ellis Street.
William Nicol North Drive has since been closed between Ontdekkers and 14th Avenue and it is unclear when it will be re-opened. Scores of people were stranded at the nearby Standard Bank Building as they intersection was obstructed by a second truck that was involved in the collision.
A special thanks to the emergency staff at Life Flora Clinic as well as the different services that attended the incident. Incidents like this one requires team work and skill.
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Werner Vermaak
ER24