Weekend of road carnage in Durban

CARNAGE on Durban’s roads claimed the lives of 10 people at the weekend.

A high impact collision on the R102 between uMhlanga and Durban left five people dead on Saturday night.

The crash, which occurred just before 9pm, involved two vehicles. Netcare 911 spokesperson Nick Dollman said the dead – including both drivers – were aged 25 to 50 years old.

Two teenagers who survived the crash were trapped in one of the vehicles, and Durban firefighters had to use the jaws of life to free them from the wreck.

“The 15-year-old girl was in a critical condition and placed on a ventilator at the scene, while the 17-year-old male also sustained severe injuries. Both were transported to hospital,” said Dollman.

Earlier on Saturday there was another crash on the N2 northbound near Chesterville.

“Reports from the scene indicate that a truck collided with two cars,” said Dollman.

He said the truck came to a standstill, partially on the centre divide and partially in the road, blocking two lanes.

The occupants of one of the cars escaped without injury.

“Tragically, the male driver of the other car sustained severe injuries and died at the scene,” said Dollman.

Early on Friday, two people were killed in a crash on North Coast Road, westbound, in Redhill.

“Eyewitnesses alleged that the car lost control and crashed into a truck parked in the forecourt of a petrol station,” said Dollman, who noted that the exact details of the incident and preceding events would form part of a police investigation.

Two people survived the crash; one was in a critical condition and placed on a ventilator at the scene, and the other sustained moderate to serious injuries.

Durban firefighters used the jaws of life to remove the roof and free the trapped occupants.

Two more people died on Friday in a crash that also left five other people injured.

Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said a bus collided with two cars at the corner of David Webster (Leopold) and Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Grey) streets in the CBD.

“One of the cars then left the roadway, coming to rest on the pavement.

“Three occupants of the car were trapped.

“Paramedics found that the driver had suffered major injuries and unfortunately passed away inside the vehicle. One of the passengers was found in a critical condition in the vehicle.”

Jamieson said one of the patients was treated by advanced life support paramedics before being rushed to hospital, but she went into cardiac arrest and died.

All the crashes will be the subject of police investigations.