Another N3 crash leaves 10 injured

Hours after a horrific truck crash claimed three lives on the N3, another accident on the notorious highway has left 10 people injured.

Robert McKenzie, spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services, said the latest accident took place on the N3 near the Pavilion Shopping Centre on Wednesday morning.

“Paramedics are on the scene of the crash on the N3 northbound. A minibus has overturned,” he said.

“Ten patients have been treated at the scene. They have suffered injuries ranging from serious to minor.

“The cause of the crash is not known and will be investigated by police.”

In Tuesday’s crash near the Mariannhill toll plaza, the son of Minority Front leader and member of the provincial legislature Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi was among those who lost their lives. Pradhil Thakur-Rajbansi and Priyanka Nunkumar were killed when their vehicle was swept beneath a truck.

The accident occurred on Tuesday morning when the driver of a truck mowed into several vehicles after an alleged brake failure while travelling east in the fast lane before the toll plaza. 

Dashcam footage showed the truck travelling at a high speed before colliding into vehicles. Two trucks and seven vehicles were involved in the pile-up.

On Monday night a truck driver was killed when he crashed into a bridge on the N3 and the vehicle's cab broke loose and plunged 50m into a river.

The driver was heading from Durban towards Pietermaritzburg when he lost control and crashed into the side of the bridge.

In a Facebook post, community organisation 1860 Heritage Centre accused the government.

“Blood on the hands of our government in allowing the total collapse of the transport system,” it said.

“The intentional, orchestrated decline and collapse of the rail transportation network has resulted in an overwhelming dependence on road transportation for goods being delivered by trucks between Johannesburg and Durban.

“Poor policing, corruption and sheer negligence sees hundreds of lives lost every month as the carnage continues.

“When is enough going to be enough? Why are we silent? How long must we keep quiet? Why are we waiting for an election for change? Why? Why do we wait for change?

“Every political party, including the ruling party and the unions, have failed its citizens. Crime, corruption, unemployment, inequality and rampant poverty, all on their watch.

“The future of our country is in the hands of all its people. Its people must determine its fate. Enough is enough. Now we rally, now we stand together.”

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