Emergency services have rescued the driver of a minibus taxi who was trapped in the wreckage following Thursday morning’s devastating crash in Isipingo, south of Durban.
The collision, which involved a truck and a minibus taxi on the old R102 near Lotus Park, has claimed the lives of at least 11 people. Rescue teams, including eThekwini Fire Department personnel and medical services, worked for nearly three hours to free the taxi driver, who was pinned at the front of the vehicle.
Officials confirmed that the driver sustained multiple fractures and was rushed to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Paramedics at the scene warned that the death toll could still rise, as several victims were critically injured. Around seven people were transported to hospital, most of them in serious to critical condition.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed, but initial indications suggest that the truck jack-knifed before colliding with the taxi.
Family members of the victims and local residents gathered at the scene as recovery operations continued. The truck driver was earlier taken to a nearby police station for his own safety.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said authorities would work closely with other departments to determine the cause of the accident.
“This crash comes after we recorded a historic 18% decrease in road fatalities during the festive season,” Sibiya said. “The MEC has deployed a team from his office to trace the families of the victims and has committed that everything possible will be done to ensure they receive the necessary support.”
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.