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The R21 highway in Ekurhuleni witnessed harrowing scenes over the weekend as two separate vehicular accidents occurred, prompting swift responses from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and emergency services.
In the early hours of Saturday before the Pomona offramp on the R21 South, an articulated truck harshly collided with a fire engine that was reportedly stationed on the road. The impact was so severe that it inflicted “serious” injuries on the truck driver. Thabiso Makgato, spokesperson for the EMPD, reported that the injured driver had to be airlifted to the hospital for urgent medical attention. The authorities immediately shut down parts of the road to secure the area and facilitate the arrival of medical aid, causing temporary lane closures on the busy freeway.
Makgato detailed the dramatic episode noting the magnitude of the accident which portrayed a chaotic scene. As first responders, EMPD faced the daunting task of managing on-site safety, coordinating the emergency flights, and investigating the causes of the collision.
In an unrelated and equally tragic event, a 43-year-old driver of a delivery vehicle met a fatal end when he crashed into a stationary heavy motor vehicle on the same R21, near the Atlas Road offramp, in the Kempton Park area. Upon the officers' arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of the bakkie driver covered beside the wrecked Nissan light delivery vehicle. Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa, another spokesperson for the EMPD, announced that the man was pronounced dead at the site by the summoned paramedics.
The EMPD reported that the stationary vehicle's driver and the crew were not physically harmed, although they required treatment for the severe shock they experienced following the catastrophic event. Details surrounding the cause of the crash were not immediately clear, and an in-depth investigation has been set in motion with a case of culpable homicide filed at the Kempton Park police station. Authorities are presently piecing together the sequence of events leading up to this crash.
These accidents have highlighted road safety concerns on the R21, with urgent calls for heightened awareness and adherence to road safety regulations to prevent further loss and injury. As investigations proceed, the EMPD vows to undertake meticulous examinations to understand the root cause of the accidents and prevent the recurrence of such devastating incidents.
The R21 highway remains one of the major arteries of Ekurhuleni’s road network, and both the EMPD and other stakeholders are tasked with ensuring the security and safety of its countless users. This weekend’s events have shown that, despite stringent safety measures, the risk of accidents remains a constant threat.
The community is reminded to exercise caution and stay informed about road conditions to safeguard themselves and others. As the story develops, more information is expected to be released by the authorities.