Departmental spokesperson Hilary Mophete tells OFM News that the Toyota Conquest was reportedly transporting eight passengers, which - if true - means it was overloaded. In addition Mophete says that the car supposedly failed to yield at a stop sign at a junction between the R706 and N6 roads.

Mophete says this resulted in the deaths of an infant, a toddler, a teenager and three adults.

Meanwhile Free State Department of Health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi says that the two survivors of the crash are currently stable and were admitted to the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. 

“During the rainy season and especially the level one lockdown, road users must ensure they don’t travel after midnight. Road safety is everybody’s responsibility, so every time someone gets behind the wheel they should make sure that they’re eligible to drive. This incident has cost us a lot of lives”.

The Department of Health together with the Department of Road and Transport both sent condolences to the families affected. The Department of Health’s Mondli Mvambi said road users must be patient, alert and cooperative on the roads, to ensure that we avoid accidents at all costs”.

OFM News