At approximately 07:00 this morning, KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to reports of a major multi-vehicle collision on the N3 between the Hilton and Peter Brown off-ramps.
Upon arrival, emergency services encountered a chaotic scene involving a passenger taxi, a private motor vehicle, and a heavy goods truck.
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Preliminary assessments indicate that the taxi collided with the car before slamming into the rear of the truck, leaving the taxi’s wreckage crumpled and wedged against the heavy vehicle.
The impact of the collision left the driver and front-seat passenger of the taxi heavily entrapped in the mangled vehicle.
In a rescue operation, paramedics worked in close coordination with local Fire and Rescue services, utilizing specialized hydraulic equipment to stabilize and extricate the trapped victims.
A total of 11 patient were injured, 4 patients sustained significant trauma and required advanced life support intervention, and 7 patients were treated for various minor injuries.
A mother and her two children traveling in the private car miraculously escaped physical injury, though they were treated on-scene for severe shock and emotional trauma.
Once stabilized, all eleven injured patients were transported to various local hospitals for definitive care.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) were on-site to conduct investigations and manage the significant traffic backlog.
The N3 northbound was completely closed for two hours to facilitate the rescue and recovery operation.
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As of 09:00, the roadway has been cleared and traffic flow has returned to normal.
The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation by authorities.
