One person has died and several others have been injured following a collision between a Free State Department of Health patient transport vehicle and a light motor vehicle on the N8 near Mandela View.
According to Provincial Emergency Medical Services, the crash occurred when a light motor vehicle suffered a tyre burst, lost control, and collided with the patient transport vehicle travelling from Ficksburg to Bloemfontein.
Emergency crews from the Mangaung Fire and Rescue Service used the jaws of life to free two people who were trapped inside the patient vehicle.
EMS spokesperson Sipho Towa confirmed that one patient was declared dead at the scene, while others sustained injuries of varying severity.
“It is reported that a light motor vehicle had a tyre burst, lost control, and collided with a patient transport vehicle. The patient transport was carrying patients from Ficksburg to Bloemfontein. One patient was unfortunately declared dead at the scene, while three sustained moderate injuries,” Towa said.
He added that one patient was critically injured, while eight others sustained moderate injuries. Several of the injured were transported to hospital for further treatment, while others were taken for psychosocial support.
Authorities confirmed that one lane on the N8 remains closed, with traffic being diverted past the scene as recovery and cleanup operations continue.