|
|
|
|
|
10 March 2023
|
Truck loses control on M41 in Durban, ploughs into 49 vehicles; multiple injuries but no fatalities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A heavy commercial vehicle lost control and ploughed into 49 vehicles on the M41 highway towards Umhlanga in Durban on Monday morning, 6 March 2023 at before 08h00am. The truck was a side tipper carrying allegedly stolen chrome ore, when its brakes failed. Drivers and passengers suffered "moderate to serious" injuries, according to officials. The City of eThekwini Fire and Rescue Service’s Division Commander Bruce Degier was the incident commander on scene. DC Degier said, “On arrival on the M41 east bound in the vicinity of the Ridgeside intersection in Umhlanga, the brigade found a truck tractor with double side-tipper trailers, which had collided with 49 light motor vehicles. The truck continued down the M41 and left the roadway and overturned before the M4/M41 hairpin bend.”
He added, “Umhlanga fire crews were first arriving followed by Durban North. Response included Umhlanga Rescue Pumper 22, Durban North Rescue Pumper 35, the HQ Chemical Unit 04 and Command Vehicle 07. Various ambulance services on scene responded to the multiple injuries. The scene was cleared by 15h00.”
“There were a number of casualties ranging from minor to serious, from the light motor vehicles who were receiving medical care from various ambulance services. There were no entrapments reported. The truck was carrying a load of chrome ore. This information was initially not available as the driver had absconded and no transportation documentation could be located”, said Degier.
“Once the investigation was completed by the SAPS Collision Unit, the roadway was cleared by Brigade personnel and sand was applied by City engineers. DSW assisted with collision debris removal. Challenges included the driver absconding leaving different shipping papers and number plates behind. Brigade treated the scene as a hazmat incident as we were not able to verify the contents of the trailers”, he said.
KZN Police stated that the driver was on the run and a case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened. KZN Police spokesperson, Thenjiswa Ngcobo, said the truck driver had fled and had not been found by Monday afternoon.
KZN Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said, "The truck is suspected to have experienced brake failure.” He said the police would look into allegations "of a total failure of the truck's braking system, the condition of the driver and various other defects". If investigations revealed that the truck was not roadworthy, the truck owner could also face charges, Hlomuka said.
Scores of people gathered at the accident scene amid speculation that the truck was carrying stolen chrome ore, a mineral resource used to manufacture stainless steel and other consumer products.
Injured treated
Netcare 911’s Shawn Herbst said, “At 07h40 Monday morning, Netcare 911 responded to a collision on the M41 East Bound in Umhlanga Ridge, Durban. Reports allege that a truck driver lost control travelling down the road when he ploughed through morning traffic. Medics assessed the scene and found 22 patients, who had sustained injuries ranging from serious to minor injuries. Many patients had been transported privately prior to the arrival of emergency services. A Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance was activated to airlift patients from the scene.”
A pregnant woman who was injured was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Advanced Life Support paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said patients were treated on the scene before they were taken to various Durban hospitals.
Two patients who had sustained critical injuries have been transported to a nearby facility under the care of IPSS Medical Rescue Advanced Life Support paramedics and another critical patient has been airlifted to a specialist facility by the Netcare 911 helicopter.
Emer-G-Med spokesman Kyle van Reenen said on arrival at the scene, emergency teams were met with mayhem after a fully laden truck ploughed into several light motor vehicles. "Many people were left with injuries ranging from minor to moderate with one pregnant female motorist left with serious injuries. She was treated and stabilised at the scene before being airlifted by the Netcare 911 aeromedical helicopter to a specialist facility for definitive care."
Driver hands himself over to Police; no bail
The state is opposing bail in the case of a 22-year-old truck driver whose vehicle ploughed into traffic on the M41 in Durban on Monday. Sithulile Zulu appeared briefly before the Durban Magistrate's Court today. At least 45 vehicles were involved in the multi-vehicle crash. Zulu is facing charges of reckless and negligent driving and failure to comply with the duties of a driver following the crash. After fleeing the scene, Zulu handed himself over to the police on Monday night, 6 March 2023.
Sources: Division Commander Bruce Degier, eThekwini Fire and Rescue Service; Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911; IPSS Medical Rescue; Emer-G-Med, SABC News
He added, “Umhlanga fire crews were first arriving followed by Durban North. Response included Umhlanga Rescue Pumper 22, Durban North Rescue Pumper 35, the HQ Chemical Unit 04 and Command Vehicle 07. Various ambulance services on scene responded to the multiple injuries. The scene was cleared by 15h00.”
“There were a number of casualties ranging from minor to serious, from the light motor vehicles who were receiving medical care from various ambulance services. There were no entrapments reported. The truck was carrying a load of chrome ore. This information was initially not available as the driver had absconded and no transportation documentation could be located”, said Degier.
“Once the investigation was completed by the SAPS Collision Unit, the roadway was cleared by Brigade personnel and sand was applied by City engineers. DSW assisted with collision debris removal. Challenges included the driver absconding leaving different shipping papers and number plates behind. Brigade treated the scene as a hazmat incident as we were not able to verify the contents of the trailers”, he said.
KZN Police stated that the driver was on the run and a case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened. KZN Police spokesperson, Thenjiswa Ngcobo, said the truck driver had fled and had not been found by Monday afternoon.
KZN Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said, "The truck is suspected to have experienced brake failure.” He said the police would look into allegations "of a total failure of the truck's braking system, the condition of the driver and various other defects". If investigations revealed that the truck was not roadworthy, the truck owner could also face charges, Hlomuka said.
Scores of people gathered at the accident scene amid speculation that the truck was carrying stolen chrome ore, a mineral resource used to manufacture stainless steel and other consumer products.
Injured treated
Netcare 911’s Shawn Herbst said, “At 07h40 Monday morning, Netcare 911 responded to a collision on the M41 East Bound in Umhlanga Ridge, Durban. Reports allege that a truck driver lost control travelling down the road when he ploughed through morning traffic. Medics assessed the scene and found 22 patients, who had sustained injuries ranging from serious to minor injuries. Many patients had been transported privately prior to the arrival of emergency services. A Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance was activated to airlift patients from the scene.”
A pregnant woman who was injured was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Advanced Life Support paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said patients were treated on the scene before they were taken to various Durban hospitals.
Two patients who had sustained critical injuries have been transported to a nearby facility under the care of IPSS Medical Rescue Advanced Life Support paramedics and another critical patient has been airlifted to a specialist facility by the Netcare 911 helicopter.
Emer-G-Med spokesman Kyle van Reenen said on arrival at the scene, emergency teams were met with mayhem after a fully laden truck ploughed into several light motor vehicles. "Many people were left with injuries ranging from minor to moderate with one pregnant female motorist left with serious injuries. She was treated and stabilised at the scene before being airlifted by the Netcare 911 aeromedical helicopter to a specialist facility for definitive care."
Driver hands himself over to Police; no bail
The state is opposing bail in the case of a 22-year-old truck driver whose vehicle ploughed into traffic on the M41 in Durban on Monday. Sithulile Zulu appeared briefly before the Durban Magistrate's Court today. At least 45 vehicles were involved in the multi-vehicle crash. Zulu is facing charges of reckless and negligent driving and failure to comply with the duties of a driver following the crash. After fleeing the scene, Zulu handed himself over to the police on Monday night, 6 March 2023.
Sources: Division Commander Bruce Degier, eThekwini Fire and Rescue Service; Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911; IPSS Medical Rescue; Emer-G-Med, SABC News
