Three men have been killed and nine others injured this morning following a head-on collision on the R28 near Vereeniging, on the borders of Westonaria.
ER24 paramedics, along with various services, responded to the scene to find the truck and taxi parked on the side of the road. The taxi had been completely smashed up against the front of the truck.
Metro services closed off the road while paramedics and fire services assessed the scene.
On assessment, paramedics found that three men had already succumbed to their injuries prior to the arrival of paramedics. Two of the deceased were found lying trapped inside the taxi while the third was found lying outside the taxi.
Nothing more could be done for these patients and they were later declared dead on scene.
Nine other [patients were found on scene with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Some of these patients also lay trapped inside the wrecked taxi.
Rescue workers had to use the jaws-of-life equipment to free the patients from the wreckage.
Once freed, paramedics treated the patients and provided the critically injured patients with advanced life support interventions.
One critically injured patient was airlifted by the ER24 helicopter while the second was airlifted by a private medical helicopter.
The remaining patients were treated and transported to various hospitals in the area for further treatment.
The cause of the collision is not yet known but local authorities were on scene for further investigations.
Russel Meiring
ER24 Spokesperson