14 killed in separate E Cape crashes over weekend

FOURTEEN people were killed in separate accidents on Eastern Cape roads over the weekend.

The first accident happened on Bambisana Road in Lusikisiki near Jambeni Location on Friday when two vehicles collided head-on.

Department of transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie said a minibus taxi with 16 occupants and a Toyota bakkie with two people on board were travelling in opposite directions when they collided.

“Four people – three males and one female – died on the scene while eight others were critically injured and four sustained minor injuries. Emergency services practitioners used the jaws of life to remove the victims from the wreckage.

“The driver of the bakkie and his passenger were among those with critical injuries. The injured were taken to Bambisana Hospital,” said Rantjie.

Also on Friday, a Hyundai iX35 travelling from Qumbu towards Mthatha on the N2 road near Ncambedlana farms, hit and killed a female pedestrian who was on the pavement.

“It is alleged that a female driver lost control of her vehicle and veered off the road,” she said.

Three other people died when a bakkie overturned and crashed on the R411 near Coffee Bay in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Rantjie said a further five people died on Saturday following a vehicle crash at the intersection of N10 from Cookhouse and R63 from Bedford.

She said the crash occurred at about 7pm when two vehicles collided.

“All five were declared dead on the scene,” she said.

On Saturday night, on the N2 road from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown, a motor cycle collided with a sedan.

The motorcyclist was burnt beyond recognition while the occupant of the motor vehicle sustained serious injuries and was taken to St Georges hospital.

Transport, safety and liaison MEC, Weziwe Tikana has expressed shock and sadness following the deaths and has urged motorists to be extra vigilant.