Four die as two minibuses collide
AT LEAST four people were killed, a few were left in a critical condition and many others were injured in road crashes on Kwazulu-natal roads on Saturday.
On Saturday evening, Kwazulu Private Ambulance (KZPA) responded to a crash on the R66 in the Eshowe area, northern KZN, following reports of a collision.
KZPA said that paramedics on arrival found two minibus taxis had been involved in a crash.
“Paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found that 26 patients sustained injuries ranging from critical to minor injuries,” KZPA said.
The service said the patients were treated on scene before being taken to hospital.
“Sadly, four occupants sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to their injuries before emergency services arrived,” KZPA said.
Meanwhile, a man was left fighting for his life after he crashed his vehicle into a tree on Becton Drive in Malvern, west of Durban, on Saturday night. Emer-g-med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said the ambulance service’s paramedics responded to the scene to find that a car had crashed into a tree at high impact. Van Reenen said paramedics found a man approximately aged about 40 seated in the in a critical condition.
“Advanced life support intervention was needed to stabilise him before he was placed on to a mechanical ventilator to assist him with breathing and transported rapidly by ambulance to a nearby hospital,” Van Reenen said.
He said two other occupants had suffered minor to moderate injuries. They were treated on scene before being taken to hospital.
Earlier in the evening, IPSS Medical Rescue and the IPSS Search and Rescue Unit responded to the R102 in Umhlali, north of Durban, after reports of a head-on collision.
Paul Herbst said when paramedics arrived, they found that a car and a bakkie had crashed head-on, which resulted in both vehicles leaving the road and both drivers being entrapped.
“Advanced life support paramedics, together with KDM (Kwadukuza Municipality) fire and rescue, worked to free them. Both were critically injured,” Herbst said.
He said once the patients were extricated, they were transported to hospital by IPSS Medical Rescue.