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19 June 2026
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Third body recovered after Toyota Hilux plunged into river in Addo, Eastern Cape
On June 7, 2026, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue and the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality teams recovered the body of a 35-year-old man from the Coerney River in Addo, Eastern Cape. This brought the tragic death toll to three following a vehicle accident. The incident originally occurred on June 6, 2026, when a white Toyota Hilux bakkie carrying five Zimbabwean nationals attempted to cross a low-water bridge on Slagboom Road. The strong river currents swept the vehicle off the bridge.
Search and rescue teams, working alongside the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality Rescue Team, resumed operations on Sunday morning following reports that community members had located a body along the riverbank.
The deceased was found among debris approximately one kilometre from where the Toyota Hilux entered the water.
Police said three men, aged between 34 and 50, were travelling in the front of the vehicle, while two others, aged between 30 and 35, were seated in the rear load bed.
The two occupants travelling on the back of the bakkie managed to escape as the vehicle was carried away by the floodwaters.
"Upon entering the river, the three front occupants became trapped and subsequently went missing in the water. The two occupants on the rear load bed reportedly managed to jump from the vehicle and safely exit the water," Police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said.
The recovery of the third victim marks a tragic end to the search operation, with police continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the vehicle entering the river.
Sources: Missing Person South Africa, Accidents.co.za, IOL
Search and rescue teams, working alongside the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality Rescue Team, resumed operations on Sunday morning following reports that community members had located a body along the riverbank.
The deceased was found among debris approximately one kilometre from where the Toyota Hilux entered the water.
Police said three men, aged between 34 and 50, were travelling in the front of the vehicle, while two others, aged between 30 and 35, were seated in the rear load bed.
The two occupants travelling on the back of the bakkie managed to escape as the vehicle was carried away by the floodwaters.
"Upon entering the river, the three front occupants became trapped and subsequently went missing in the water. The two occupants on the rear load bed reportedly managed to jump from the vehicle and safely exit the water," Police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said.
The recovery of the third victim marks a tragic end to the search operation, with police continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the vehicle entering the river.
Sources: Missing Person South Africa, Accidents.co.za, IOL