Six killed in head-on collision between two VW Polos on R34 in Newcastle
· The South African
Six people have been killed in a head-on collision involving two Volkswagen Polo vehicles on the R34 Memel Road near Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The crash occurred on Saturday afternoon between 15:30 and 16:00.
Visit betsport24.es for more information.
SIX KILLED IN 34 NEWCASTLE ACCIDENT
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements, preliminary information from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) indicates that the impact of the collision caused one of the vehicles to burst into flames.
“It is suspected that two victims travelling in this Polo were trapped inside the vehicle and died at the scene,” departmental spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said.
He added that the confirmed death toll could change pending the outcome of a forensic investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
Sibiya said RTI officers are working closely with SAPS, which has opened a criminal case to determine the cause of the collision.
ANOTHER DEADLY CRASH IN KWAZULU-NATAL
The latest tragedy comes just weeks after four people, including three members of the same family and their domestic worker, were killed in a head-on collision involving a light motor vehicle and a truck at the R612 Rydal intersection near Highflats.
The victims were burnt beyond recognition after their vehicle caught fire following the impact.
ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO BE RELAUNCHED
In response to the continued loss of life on the province’s roads, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements said it is preparing to relaunch its Road Safety Campaign in partnership with key stakeholders.
In the meantime, Road Traffic Inspectorate officers and Operation Shanela teams will continue to maintain a visible presence on roads across the province.
The department said previous road safety reports show that a significant number of fatalities involving young people occur over weekends, particularly between 17:00 and 21:00.
Figures published by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) show that road deaths remain a major concern nationally, with 902 fatalities recorded in June 2021, 873 in June 2022, 833 in June 2023 and 923 in June 2024.
Authorities have urged motorists to obey traffic laws, avoid reckless driving and exercise extra caution on the roads, especially during weekends when fatal crashes are more prevalent.