12 killed on Cape roads
All routes were extremely busy due to the long weekend
AT LEAST 12 people, including a minor, were killed in road crashes this long weekend. Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa said the Western Cape roads had been extremely busy since Sunday.
“We are expecting huge traffic this evening (yesterday), passing Sir Lowry’s Pass till about 8pm with people getting back to work. The Huguenot Tunnel will be busy from 3pm onwards as well as the R27 on the West Coast,” he said.
Africa said five people lost their lives in a crash on the N1 between Laingsburg and Prins Albert Road just after 3am yesterday. A Datsun Go and a Hyundai i10 crashed. “All five occupants in the Datsun Go; two adult males, two adult females and one child died. Two people were seriously injured and another person was trapped inside the Hyundai i10,” said Africa.
The N1 was closed in both directions and Africa added that the cause of the crash was unknown.
In an accident in Brackenfell on Monday, a 4-year-old was killed by a VW Golf.
“The 4-year-old was being carried by the mother as they were crossing the N2 after being dropped off by a taxi from Knysna. The driver of the car was tested and he blew over 0.48mg/l. He has been arrested and the road was turned into a stop-and-go,” said Africa.
He said from Friday to Sunday six fatalities were reported.
In the Eden District, a 24-year-old passenger died on Friday when the driver of a Kia vehicle lost control of it.
The following day, on the West Coast, a pedestrian was hit on the R27.
In Langebaan a Fiat Uno vehicle collided with a Nissan LDV killing three people; two women and a man, on the R364 in Clanwilliam.
On Sunday, in the Winelands, a female driver lost control of her vehicle and died in the crash. The crash occurred on the R101 Klapmuts/Stellenbosch road.
Meanwhile, sporadic protests across the Cape also delayed the flow of traffic.
Africa said yesterday the N2 inbound was closed at Macassar exit due to protest action taking place at the Shell Ultra. Motorists were advised to use alternative routes.
Another protest in Vrygrond caused the closure of Prince George Drive at Military Road on Monday. Protesters were vandalising Capricorn Park Mall and law enforcement and public order police were deployed to calm the area.