A hail of bullets claimed the lives of two of the five suspects and injured a third who was arrested. Two more then fled into the bush.
Police launched a manhunt for the two men. According to Kyle van Reenen of Marshall Security, who was on the scene, one of the men was later found dead. The final suspected robber, who was injured, was arrested.
Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said a woman whose car was hit by the out-of-control vehicles was treated by medics, as were two injured police officers.
By 3.30pm, the N2 highway was still closed in both directions in the vicinity of the incident.