By Lwazi Raul
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe has called on motorists to be extra careful on the roads and use them wisely, this follows after Seven lives were lost during the weekend on the N4 Road near Mbombela.
In the first crash, six men were killed in a head on collision that occurred on the N4 toll road between Kanyamazane and Matsulu near the Gorge. The collision occurred between an Isuzu Truck and a Toyota Fortuner Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Six of the deceased were occupants in the SUV which included the driver and five passengers; the victims were all males and declared dead at the scene.
Of the injured people who include the driver of the truck, were rushed to a hospital in Mbombela for medical treatment.
In another incident, there was a t-bone type of collision between a truck and a sedan this evening on the N4 toll road at Alkmaar towards Mbombela. The driver passed on at the scene. Three people sustained serious injuries and the injured include one adult and two children. The injured were also rushed to a nearby hospital in Mbombela.
The department of Community Safety Security liaison said the cause of these two crashes is still under investigation.
“It is disheartening to be losing lives at this rate on our roads especially at night. We are pleading with drivers to obey the rules and drive with extreme caution for their sake and that of other road users. With increased compliance to the rules, deadly crashes will be drastically reduced,” Shongwe said.
Shongwe has sent his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and is also wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery.
