Weekend crashes claim six lives
AT LEAST six people were killed on Western Cape roads during the long weekend according to the statistics revealed by provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa.
Nearly 5 600 vehicles were stopped, with more than 4 400 drivers screened and a total of 55 people arrested for driving under the influence.
There were 11 other arrests for a variety of infringements such as excessive speeding, negligent driving, possession of stolen goods and bribery of a police officer, among others.
Africa revealed that 659 fines were issued worth just over a R570 000, with the highest speed recorded at 123km/h in an 80km zone in Knysna.
The six people killed in the Western Cape included two deaths in the M9 area in Khayelitsha, one cyclist in Vyeboom Road, between Grabouw and Villiersdorp, one passenger at Lambert’s Bay, along with a driver and passenger on the R300 near Kuilsriver.
Three others were injured in a fourvehicle collision on the R300 in Kuilsrivier.
“ER24 paramedics, along with Life Healthcare, metro and fire services, arrived on the scene where four vehicles had collided,” spokesperson Russel Meiring said.
“Local authorities began to close off the road while paramedics inspected the situation. On closer inspection, paramedics found that five people lay trapped inside one of the vehicles.
“Paramedics found that one man and a woman had sustained fatal injuries. Unfortunately, nothing could be done for the patients and they were declared dead at the scene,” said Meiring.
“Three other patients were found trapped in the vehicle. One man was found in a critical condition while another man and a woman were found to have sustained moderate injuries.
“Rescue and fire services had to use specialised rescue equipment to free the patients from the vehicle. Once freed, paramedics treated the patients and provided the critically injured man with advanced life support interventions.
“The patients were then transported to Tygerberg Hospital for further treatment.
“The occupants from the other three vehicles fortunately escaped injury. Local authorities were at the scene for further investigations,” he said.