Six killed, one injured in horror head-on crash involving two VW Polos near Newcastle
According to preliminary reports from the province’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), one of the vehicles caught fire following the devastating impact of the collision.
Six people have died and one person was injured in a horrific head-on collision involving two VW Polo vehicles on the R34 Memel Road near Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the crash occurred between 3.30 pm and 4.:30 pm casting a dark cloud over the province.
According to preliminary reports from the province’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), one of the vehicles caught fire following the devastating impact of the collision.
Duma said it is suspected that two victims travelling in one of the VW Polos were trapped inside the burning vehicle and died at the scene.
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He cautioned that the death toll could still change pending the outcome of a forensic investigation by the South African Police Service.
“This number may change depending on the results of a forensic investigation to be conducted by SAPS,” Duma said.
RTI officials are working closely with police, who have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the crash.
The tragedy comes just a week after another fatal head-on collision in Highflats, where three members of the Msomi family and their helper died when their car collided with a truck on the R612. Their vehicle also caught fire, leaving the victims burnt beyond recognition.
Duma said the province remained deeply concerned about rising road deaths during the winter holiday season, when increased day and night travel places additional pressure on road safety.
He said data from previous road safety reports showed that most youth-related road fatalities occur on Saturdays and Sundays between 5 pm and 9 pm.
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Duma said the department was preparing to relaunch its road safety campaign with key stakeholders, while RTI and Operation Shanela teams would continue intensified visibility and enforcement across KwaZulu-Natal roads.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
