A devastating road accident on the R102 near Lotus Park in Isipingo, south of Durban, has left 11 people dead and several others fighting for their lives, following a head-on collision between a truck and a minibus taxi on Thursday morning.
Emergency services confirmed that the taxi driver, who was trapped inside the wreckage, was freed after a gruelling three-hour rescue operation and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedics said specialised rescue equipment, including the Jaws of Life, was used to extricate the driver from the severely damaged vehicle.
According to ALS spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, the crash occurred shortly after 7:30am when the truck and taxi collided head-on. The impact forced both vehicles off the roadway and up an embankment, leaving passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
“Multiple patients were found entrapped, and immediately the eThekwini Fire Department was called to assist,” Jamieson said.
Tragically, 11 people were declared dead at the scene, among them a 13-year-old child. Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with several passengers critically injured and requiring urgent medical attention.
“Approximately eight others have sustained critical injuries and were transported to hospital,” Jamieson added.
The R102 remains closed to traffic as authorities continue with investigations and accident reconstruction. Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, was en route to the scene on Thursday and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
“This accident has occurred after we recorded a historic 18% decrease in fatalities during the festive season,” Duma said, noting the emotional impact of the incident despite recent improvements in road safety statistics.
The MEC confirmed that a team from the Department of Transport has been tasked with locating the families of the victims to provide support during this difficult time.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that they receive the necessary support,” he said.
Preliminary information from witnesses suggests that the truck may have made a u-turn, resulting in the fatal head-on collision. However, authorities have cautioned that these claims are still under investigation.
“For these reasons, I have mandated the Road Traffic Inspectorate team to work with the Durban Metro Police and the South African Police Service as part of a full investigation,” Duma said. “We want to establish the cause of this accident.”
As investigations continue, the tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by road users on busy provincial routes and the devastating consequences of a single moment on South Africa’s roads.
