The two vehicles that were involved in a head-on collision on the R23.
Four women were killed in an accident involving a sedan and a truck in a head-on collision on the R23 road between Volksrust and Perdekop on Friday, April 23.
According to the spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi, four other people sustained injuries ranging from slight to serious.
The injured include the driver and three passengers who were travelling in the sedan. The four deceased were also passengers in the vehicle. The truck driver sustained slight injuries.
“All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Standerton. The cause of the collision is still under investigation. However, reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage,” said Mmusi.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, has extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
“We are again pleading with motorists to play their part by using the road responsibly. We should all contribute towards making the roads safer by always obeying the rules of the road and driving with maximum concentration,” said Macie.
He added that road crashes are costly not only in terms of human lives, but also to the country’s economy, as billions of rands are spent compensating victims through the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
The R23 remains one of the province’s priority routes due to the high number of fatal crashes recorded during previous holiday seasons. The road also carries heavy traffic volumes during holidays and long weekends.
