Three killed in collisions involving trucks
Three people were killed in two separate head-on collisions with trucks on Eastern Cape roads at about 7.30am on Tuesday.
In the first reported crash, a truck and car collided on the R72 between Kleinemonde and Port Alfred.
Emergency services closed the road for about two hours, leaving only one lane open.
On impact, the truck veered off the road down an embankment and caught alight, officials said.
Provincial transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said one person died on the scene.
“The truck caught fire during the collision, but the truck driver escaped unharmed,” he said.
“The sedan driver was not so lucky, he was declared dead on the scene.”
Binqose said that firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze and reopened the road shortly afterwards.
In another fatal crash at about the same time, two people were killed in a head-on collision between a bakkie and a truck on the N2 near Butterworth.
Binqose said the Toyota bakkie was travelling in the direction of East London when it collided with the truck which was travelling in the opposite direction.
“Both occupants of the bakkie died on impact, while the truck driver, escaped unscathed.
“The accident occurred as wet and slippery conditions, with poor visibility persist in most parts across the province,” Binqose said.
On impact, the truck veered off the road down an embankment