BY BAKANG MOKOTO

Six people were killed and three others injured following a head-on collision on the N12 Highway, just 15km outside of Potchefstroom on Wednesday night. ER24 paramedics’ spokesperson, Russel Meiring said their paramedics alongside other services arrived on the scene shortly before midnight where a bakkie and light motor vehicle were found in the middle of the road.

Meiring said both vehicles had sustained a significant amount of damages in the collision. He further said upon closer inspection, paramedics discovered six patients lying in the light motor vehicle while three were found inside the bakkie. Paramedics assessed the patients in the light motor vehicle and found that two men, a woman and two children, aged between three and four, had all sustained numerous injuries and showed no signs of life.

“Nothing could be done for them and they were later declared dead. A sixth patient from the light motor vehicle, a woman was found to be in a critical condition. Paramedics treated the woman and provided her with advanced life support interventions,” Meiring said.

He further said that upon inspection of the bakkie, paramedics found three men inside. Meiring added that two had sustained moderate injuries, while a third had sustained fatal injuries.

“Nothing could be done for the man and he was declared dead. Once paramedics had treated the three patients, the critically injured was airlifted by a private medical helicopter to Lenmed Randfontein for urgent treatment. The two other patients were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

“The exact details surrounding this incident are not yet known but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” he said.

MEC for community safety and transport management department, Dr Mpho Motlhabane said the province is still consolidating its figures and national department will pronounce first.

“We had a situation on Sunday which really shocked all of us as a province where we lost seven people, while other seven were hospitalised. I believe that these accidents affected our statistics phenomenally. However, we hope that will sum well as we have done our best under the circumstances,” Motlhabane said.

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