Durban – Twenty-four people died when a truck crashed into four minibus taxis and a car in Field’s Hill, Pinetown, on Thursday night, paramedics said.

About 80 people were thought to have been injured, said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha.

Seven of them were critically injured and eight seriously injured.

Eleven had minor injuries.

They were taken to the Khan and Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospitals.

A reporter at the scene said bodies, some covered with silver blankets, lay strewn across the road.

Rescuers used the Jaws-of-Life to free some of the passengers from the wreckage.

Bystanders helped paramedics by holding drip bags for some of the injured.

It was believed the truck crashed into the vehicles when its brakes failed.

– SAPA