Ten people perished in a horrific collision involving a taxi and a Scania truck on the N1 highway near Koppies, Free State, on Sunday, 8 December.
The accident, which occurred around 6:00 am, approximately 20km from the Koppies off-ramp, left emergency services grappling with a devastating scene and a community in mourning.
According to Provincial Spokesman for Emergency Services, Sipho Towa, a white Scania truck with two trailers travelling north collided with a Toyota Quantum taxi. "Ten people were declared dead by emergency officials on the scene, while one person sustained serious injuries," Towa reported. He confirmed the victims comprised seven women and three men. The taxi was reportedly travelling from Gauteng to the Eastern Cape.
Free State police spokesperson, Captain Loraine Earle, corroborated the details, stating that preliminary reports indicate the taxi crashed into the rear and then underneath the truck.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson, Simon Zwane, provided further detail, explaining that the taxi was travelling behind the double-trailer truck on the N1 north. "Approximately 20km from the Koppies off-ramp, the taxi, a Toyota Quantum, crashed into the rear of the trailer," Zwane confirmed.
The tragedy adds to a grim weekend on Free State roads. The death toll from road accidents across the province now stands at 16, prompting widespread concern and outrage. This latest incident has left authorities scrambling to respond to the crisis, while families grapple with unimaginable grief. The rising death toll is intensifying calls for urgent action to address the root causes of these accidents and improve road safety measures.
The RTMC has issued a stark warning to taxi and truck drivers, urging them to exercise extreme caution.
Zwane emphasised the critical issue of driver fatigue: "Driver fatigue is a major contributor to road accidents, and it's imperative that drivers prioritise their safety and the safety of their passengers by taking regular breaks and getting enough rest," he stressed.
The RTMC's plea highlights the need for drivers of public transport and heavy vehicles to be mindful of their fatigue levels and ensure adequate rest.
The devastating accident on the N1 is not an isolated incident. In a separate incident on Saturday night, three people, including a nine-year-old child, died in a collision between two bakkies on the R30 between Allanridge and Odendaalsrus. This further underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations across the Free State.
The scene of the N1 accident was one of devastation. Emergency services worked tirelessly to recover the victims and provide assistance to the injured. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, but the sheer scale of the tragedy highlights the critical need for improved road safety awareness and preventative measures.
