Two N2 crashes leave eight dead, 13 hurt with six airlifted to hospital
EIGHT people died while 13 were seriously injured, with at least six airlifted to hospital when two car accidents on the N2 between Mthatha and Dutywa happened within hours of each other on the same spot.
Four people died while six had to be airlifted with serious injuries in the first accident around 11am near Nywara village outside Dutywa when an Amathole district municipality bakkie and a Toyota Avanza collided head-on.
About three hours later, a second accident between a truck and a bakkie claimed four lives while seven sustained injuries.
It is believed to have happened because the road had not been thoroughly cleared after the first fatal accident.
An eyewitness told the Daily Dispatch that he “saw bodies scattered all over the place”.
Speaking from the scene, East London resident Bruce Viaene said the road had been closed for about an hour and 30 minutes while emergency personnel attended to the scene.
In the morning accident, the bakkie had been travelling from Dutywa towards Mthatha when it collided with the Avanza travelling in the opposite direction.
Provincial department of health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said four people were declared dead on the scene and six were airlifted to Butterworth Hospital.
“The accident was very horrible. Upon receiving report of the accident, the emergency services personnel were dispatched and the chopper followed to rush those who survived the accident to hospital. They were all in serious conditions,” he said.
Police spokesman Jackson Manatha said they were investigating the cause of the accident.
“At the moment we are not sure how the accident happened. We are still investigating. It is when the investigation has been completed we will be able to know what really happened,” he said.
A case of culpable homicide was opened.
Manatha said both drivers had died on the scene.
“Her [bakkie driver’s] passenger was among those rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
“Two other passengers, a male and a female, died on the scene,” he said.
Manatha said they were still looking for the families of the deceased.
“None of the deceased have been identified, but we are following the leads and our team is working on tracking them down,” he said.
Kupelo could not be reached for comment regarding the second accident as his phone went straight to voicemail.
Manatha said: “I can confirm that the second accident happened on the same spot as the first. It was between a bakkie and a truck where four people died on the scene. Seven others were injured and rushed to hospital.” —