Parents spend Christmas mourning the death of their son in N3 accident
WHILE most families spent Christmas embracing their children, a Tongaat family mourned the death of their six-year-old son.
Kairav Bhagwandeen was killed in a car crash on the N3 highway near Howick on Wednesday.
It is believed his family were driving to Estcourt to visit a sick relative when the accident took place.
Three others were injured in the three-car pile-up.
ER24 paramedics and other emergency service staff responded. When they got there, they found a car and a bakkie in the middle of the road while a truck was metres away.
“Paramedics found the body of a six-year-old on the front seat of the car. The child had already succumbed to his injuries. It is understood he was thrown forward in the collision.
“The bakkie and truck drivers were not injured. Three people in the car were slightly injured; they were treated and taken to a hospital in Hilton,” said ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring.
He said local authorities were investigating.
Kairav’s uncle, Sanjay Sewnaran, who had been travelling behind the vehicle when the accident happened, said he did not know if the child had been wearing a seatbelt.
“The parents are devastated. A truck was (allegedly) coming on to the yellow line and the other vehicle involved couldn’t avoid him.
“Kairav and his older brother were asleep on the back seat when the accident happened. The rest of the family had minor injuries,” he said.
Durbanites took to Facebook to express shock and sadness at the incident and to convey their condolences to the family.
Some questioned whether the child was wearing a seatbelt and criticised the parents.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport, Kwanele Ncalane, said they had noted the incident with sadness and regret.
He said that more than 4 000 people had been fined for not wearing seatbelts since the start of this month.
“This is another example of how a child’s life could have been saved if he had been wearing a seatbelt.
“The law is very clear: wearing a seatbelt is not an option. It is compulsory. Children as young as three years old need to be buckled up at all times. Children who are younger need to be buckled up into their car seats.”
He said that even though children were difficult at times and might not want to put on their seatbelts, it was the responsibility of parents to ensure that they did so.
Kairav was cremated on Thursday.