Motorcyclist killed in Pietermaritzburg collision, 15 people injured in Mpumalanga minibus taxi crash
A motorcyclist has died in a crash in KwaZulu-Natal, while 15 people were injured, some seriously in a minibus taxi crash in Mpumalanga.
DURBAN, November 8 (ANA) – A motorcyclist has died after being critically injured when two motorbikes apparently collided on a road outside Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, paramedics said on Sunday.
Netcare 911 paramedics responded at about 11.50am on Sunday morning to reports of an accident on a road just off Pope Ellis Drive in Ashburton near Pietermaritzburg, Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said in a statement.
Reports from the scene indicated that two motorcycles had been involved in a collision, he said.
Medics found an adult man had sustained critical injuries and he was treated on the scene by an emergency care practitioner. Due to the nature of his injuries, a Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance was activated and stood by on the scene.
“The patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated despite a full advanced life support resuscitation and [he] sadly passed away on the scene.” The circumstances leading up to the accident would be investigated by the relevant authorities on the scene, Herbst said.
In a separate road accident, in Mpumalanga this time, 15 people were injured, some seriously, when a minibus taxi veered out of control and plunged down a mountainside, he said.
Netcare 911 paramedics responded at about midday on Saturday to reports of an accident on the R37 in Long Tom Pass near Lydenburg.
According to reports from the scene, the driver of the minibus taxi lost control of the vehicle after “a wheel broke off”, resulting in the taxi rolling down the mountainside.
“Medics found the 15 occupants had sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. The patients were treated on the scene and, once stabilised, were transported by various ambulance services to hospital for further treatment,” Herbst said.
– African News Agency (ANA), editing by Jacques Keet
