53 injured when a truck collided with a fully-laden bus and several vehicles after its brakes failed, Ekurhuleni
53 people were injured, four of whom seriously, when a, articulated truck collided with a fully-laden bus and several vehicles after its brakes failed at an off ramp from the N12 at Edenvale, Ekurhuleni on Wednesday, 8 February 2023. Eric Maloka, manager media liaison at Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) said that at approximately 17h22, the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services’ Edenvale and Bedfordview fire and rescue crews responded to multiple motor vehicle accident at N12 West Edenvale off-ramp involving an articulated truck, three sedans, a bakkie and a fully-loaded City of Johannesburg Metro bus.
Bedfordview Fire Station responded with rescue vehicle and Edenvale with a major pumper.
ER 24’s Russel Meiring said, “Paramedics set up a triage area while the authorities diverted traffic. Medics assessed the patients and established that four were in critical condition, whilst 39 others had sustained minor to severe injuries.”
Maloka added, “It is suspected the truck was from N12 west off ramping to Edenvale when its brakes failed and collided with several vehicles before crashing to a fully loaded City of Johannesburg Metro bus and pushing it across the road. Ekurhuleni metro police officials assisted in closing the road completely and Gauteng Ambulance services with the assistance of private ambulances started to treat the injured patients. It was recorded that 53 patients were successfully treated and transported to various hospitals. Four critically injured patients were airlifted and two were transported by ambulances.”
“30 patients with moderate injuries were treated and respectively transported to various hospitals; 17 patients with minor injuries were also treated and transported. It was also recorded that nine patients refused to be transported and another bus was redirected to transport them”, said Maloka.
Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911 said, “When medics arrived in scene, patients were scattered throughout the area surrounding the crash site. Emergency personnel from Emer-G-Med, Netcare 911 as well as other private and government services assessed at the injured. Most had sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate; however, four patients had sustained serious injuries. The four critical patients were airlifted to hospital by helicopter air ambulance. The rest of the patients were treated on scene by advanced life support paramedics and once stabilised were transported by various ambulances to local hospitals.
City of Ekurhuleni MMC of Community Safety Khathutshelo Rasilingwane arrived on scene and later briefed the media house on site.
“The Department of Energy was summoned to assist with the affected broken robot and street light from which a fire started to spark from the live wires. They have to temporarily switched off electricity as fire started to spark from the live wires.”
“The cause of the accident it’s a suspected brake failure from the truck and our local Metro Police will further with the investigation. During the operation, the road had to be temporarily closed in both directions and road commuters were redirected to alternative roads.”
No fatalities were recorded on scene. All vehicles including the truck and the City of Johannesburg Metro bus were all towed and the road was reopened for road commuters.
Circumstances leading up to the incident will be investigated by the relevant authorities.
Sources: Eric Maloka, manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS); Russel Meiring, ER 24; Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911