UMhlanga accident: driver detained
THE 23-year-old truck driver responsible for a multi-vehicle pile-up on the M41 east bound in uMhlanga Ridge on Monday has been found and arrested.
He is being detained at the Durban North police station.
The accident occurred just after 7am, when the truck driver lost control of his vehicle, allegedly because his brakes failed.
He ploughed through morning traffic and landed on privately owned vacant land.
The truck spilt a black powder-like substance, the content of which in unknown.
Superintendent Boysie Zungu, Durban metro police spokesperson, said: “The pile-up involved 49 vehicles. Injuries ranged from minor to serious, with 16 people injured.
“One of them was a pregnant woman who was airlifted for medical treatment.”
The driver fled the scene. Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, spokesperson for the KZN SAPS said: “Durban North police are investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving.
“The 23-year-old suspect handed himself to the police on Monday night. He will be appearing in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport said it had ordered a full-scale investigation.
“According to reports, the runaway tipper truck is suspected to have experienced brake failure. This caused major devastation and brought traffic to a standstill.
“Part of the investigation will look at allegations of a total failure of the truck’s braking system, the condition of the driver and various other defects.
“If it is found that the truck was unroadworthy, the government could also advocate for charges to be pressed against the truck owner,” it said.
In a press release, Sharon Hoosen, DA KZN spokesperson on transport, said, “The DA has called on KwaZulu-Natal’s ANC-run executive to step up and provide proper leadership as the carnage on the province’s roads, particularly when it comes to trucks, continues unabated.
“The carnage on KZN’s roads continues to increase, yet there remains a significant lack of initiative from the government when it comes to tackling this.”
Last November, Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced that KZN, through the Department of Transport, was exploring ways to put an end to road carnage involving trucks.
She said that this might include enforcing a curfew on freight trucks and redirecting vehicles to less busy roads.
“The DA now calls on the premier and her Transport MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to tell us how far they are with these plans,” said Hoosen.
“Of further concern is that incidents involving trucks in KZN appear to be marked by a complete lack of accountability.
“Many accidents involve heavy vehicle drivers who are either inexperienced, unlicensed, not familiar with the terrain, suffering from fatigue after driving for too long without a break and even consuming alcohol.
“In addition, many trucks are not being serviced regularly, leaving them with dangerous mechanical defects and even failed breaks, as witnessed in Monday’s M41 incident.
“Safer roads begin with strict law enforcement, visible policing, law-abiding road users and roadworthy vehicles. It is time that this ANC-run provincial government and MEC Hlomuka got this right.”
The statement ended by saying: “KZN’s people cannot afford to wait another day for stricter measures to be put in place.
“Those trucking companies that place the lives of KZN’s road users at risk must be punished. If the MEC is not willing to do this, he must exit his position.”
IPSS Medical Rescue said: “The truck involved in the collision was unbranded.”