One dead, five hurt as two vehicles overturn on M13 in Pinetown
A driver died and five other people were taken to Durban hospitals after two vehicles overturned on the M13 near Richmond Road in Pinetown on Tuesday.
One person has died and five others were taken to hospital after two vehicles overturned on the M13 highway in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday, The Citizen reported.
The crashes happened near Richmond Road. One vehicle came to rest on each side of the highway, in the two directions of travel.
What paramedics found
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the first crews to arrive found several injured people at the scene. Additional ambulances and Advanced Life Support paramedics were called in straight away.
While patients were being treated, a man thought to be the driver of one of the vehicles went into cardiac arrest. Jamieson said paramedics tried hard to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene.
The five remaining people who had been travelling in the two vehicles were stabilised on the roadside. They were then transported to a number of hospitals in Durban, where they could receive further care. The report did not say how seriously each of them was hurt.
Cause of the crashes not yet known
According to Jamieson, it is not yet clear what led to the two vehicles overturning. The SA Police Service was at the scene and will investigate further. No details were given on the identity of the person who died.
The Citizen also pointed to another serious crash in the province last week. A bakkie overturned on the R617 near Bulwer with about 15 relatives and friends on board. Several people, including children, were critically injured, and a number of passengers were thrown out of the vehicle. That led to a large emergency response.
Midlands EMS spokesperson Roland Robertson called the scene devastating. He said the emergency teams worked tirelessly to treat the many casualties. Investigators are still working to establish what caused that crash.
What this means for readers
For now, the facts of the M13 incident are limited. Police have not yet said what caused it, and no further information on the injured has been released. Anyone who uses the M13 through Pinetown should be aware that serious crashes in the area can cause delays while emergency crews and investigators work at the scene. Updates are likely to come from the SA Police Service once its investigation progresses.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
