The accident reportedly occurred at approximately 23:54 on Thursday night (28/5) at a tripoint connecting the North West, Free State and Gauteng provinces. The crash happened at the intersection of the Potchefstroom/Vereeniging Road and the Fochville/Parys Road.

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), eight people reportedly died in a major road crash at the intersection of the R500 and R42 in Potchefstroom Road in North West.

The taxi, which was transporting 16 passengers and towing a trailer, was travelling from Fochville towards Parys when it collided with a truck transporting manganese.

“The allegation is that the Minibus was travelling on the R500 from Fochville to Parys and the truck was on the opposite direction of R42 between Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark,” said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane.

Emergency services and law enforcement authorities rushed to the scene, while accident investigators were dispatched to determine the exact cause of the collision.

“A team of accident investigators was dispersed into the scene of the crash to investigate the real cause of the crash. Police were also called to the scene for processing,” Zwane added.

Authorities later confirmed a ninth victim succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The deceased include a ten-year-old, a woman and seven men.

The truck driver sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment. Eight other passengers of the taxi were transported to hospitals in Parys, Carletonville and Fochville for treatment.

One of the injured passengers is a girl, 15, said North West community safety and transport management spokesperson Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse.

Zwane urged motorists to exercise extra caution during the colder months. “As the winter season has started the RTMC advises motorists to consider fog and mist conditions when driving at night and approaching stop intersections.

“If the fog becomes too thick to drive safely, we advise motorists to pull into designated safe locations,” said Zwane.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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