6 killed in 2 crashes: authorities warn motorists
CRIMINAL charges would be brought against motorists found to have caused collisions through negligence, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) warned yesterday.
“The flagrant disregard of road rules and driver negligence are suspected in two multiple crashes that resulted in the deaths of six people and injury to about 65 others this weekend,” RTMC spokesman Simon Zwane said.
Three people were killed and about 60 injured when a bus, a car and a bakkie collided on the R617 near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal early on Saturday morning.
The bus and car collided head-on and the bakkie then crashed into the bus. All the occupants of the car died on the scene. The occupants of the bus and the bakkie sustained moderate to light injuries, Zwane said.
In another accident, three people died and seven others were injured on the N1 near Mookgophong in Limpopo on Saturday evening when two cars and two bakkies were involved in a crash.
“The collision occurred when one of the bakkies allegedly strayed into the oncoming traffic lane and crashed head-on with a sedan. The two other vehicles got involved while trying to avoid the crash,” Zwane said.
Initial information in both accidents indicated that a driver left his or her lane when it wasn’t safe to do so, thus causing a crash.
Investigations were under way to determined the exact causes of the crashes.
Zwane reiterated the RTMC’s call for motorists to respect the rules of the road and avoid reckless and negligent driving.
“The RTMC warns that criminal charges will be brought against motorists found to have caused collisions through negligence. Charges of culpable homicide are being investigated in both incidents and the RTMC will provide expert evidence to assist the courts to come to an appropriate conclusion,” he said. – ANA