In the past 72 hours, the Netcare 911 call centre has dispatched emergency vehicles to almost 230 collisions throughout Gauteng.
From 5pm on Friday until 5pm on Saturday, emergency vehicles were dispatched to 105 incidents including motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions.
From 5pm on Saturday until 5pm on Sunday, emergency vehicles were dispatched to 66 incidents including motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions.
From 5pm on Sunday until 5pm on Monday , emergency vehicles were dispatched to 57 incidents including motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions.
Below is a list of some of the more serious incidents:
Bakkie and caravan crash off N14: Around 14:45pm, Monday 28 April 2008:
Paramedics responded to a report of a serious collision on the N14 direction towards Krugersdorp between the William Nicol (R511) and Malibongwe (R512) off ramps.
It was alleged that the family were returning from a getaway when their bakkie, which was towing a caravan, crashed down an embankment.
The mother, daughter and son, who was ejected from the vehicle, sustained a variety of very serious injuries while the father sustained serious injuries. Fire fighters had to use the “jaws of life” to remove the roof of the bakkie to free the daughter from the wreck. All four of the patients were transported to the Netcare Olivedale hospital for further treatment.
N12 pile-up: Around 11:40am, Monday 28 April 2008:
Netcare 911 paramedics responded to a report of a multiple vehicle pile-up on the N12 direction east between the Puttfontein and Springs Daveyton off ramps.
It appeared that about 15 vehicles including an overturned minibus taxi, that came to rest on its roof, were involved in two separate multi-vehicle collisions in the same vicinity after a red car came to a dead stop in the highway due to very poor visibility caused by a veldt fire. This resulted in two pile-ups that were about 20 meters apart. Paramedics attended to approximately 25 patients, 8 of which had slightly more serious injuries while the majority sustained minor injuries. Netcare 911 ambulances transported 12 of the injured to hospitals and the remainder of the injured were transported by other ambulance services.
Fiery N1 smash: Around 04:40am, Monday 28 April 2008:
Netcare 911 responded to a report of a serious collision on the N1 direction towards Midrand between the Old Johannesburg and Samrand off ramps.
Paramedics arrived to find that one of the vehicles had been hit from behind and side swiped by the other. The car sustained severe damage along the passenger side and subsequently burst into flames. The father, who was driving, managed to save his baby daughter from the car but tragically despite his efforts he was unable to rescue his wife and their five year old son from the wreck and they died at the scene. The father was very lucky to escape with only minor injuries possibly caused from the impact or whilst trying to save his family and he refused further medical attention.
The driver of the other vehicle fled from the scene.
A Netcare 911 trauma councillor attended to the family members at the scene and offered further support after transporting the father to his family and in-laws.
Around 2:30pm Sunday 27 April 2008:
The driver was killed when his motorbike collided with the protective barrier on the N3 in the Buccleuch Interchange heading towards the Marlboro drive off ramp.
The victim was unidentified and died at the scene, authorities were hoping to try and identify him by tracing the motorbikes registration plates.
Paramedics advise that all members of the public carry some sort of identification and list of contact numbers that can be called in the event of a serious emergency.
Around 2pm, Saturday 26 April 2008:
A vehicle that was travelling in a westerly direction crossed over the middle divide and collided head-on with another vehicle that was travelling in an easterly direction, this occurred on the N12 approximately 500m before the Xavier road off ramp.
A three year old boy died at the scene, two other children were in a critical condition, two adults sustained serious injuries and one adult sustained minor injuries.
Traffic on the N12 travelling towards Alberton was severely affected by the partial closure of the road. There was a serious oil spill that needed to be cleared before the road was reopened to traffic which was more than two hours later.
The injured were transported by ambulances to the Netcare Union and Baragwaneth hospitals.
13h39, Saturday 26 April 2008:
Three vehicles were involved in a fatal collision on the N1 between the Malibongwe and Beyers Naude off ramps in Randburg.
A vehicle that was travelling on the N1 towards the Malibongwe off ramp collided with the side of another vehicle before crossing over the middle island and colliding head-on with another vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction towards the Beyers Naude off ramp. This section of the N1 is notorious for head-on collisions as there are no armco barriers to prevent vehicles from crossing over onto the opposite side of the highway.
The elderly male driver of the vehicle that was travelling towards the Beyers Naude off ramp died at the scene. Three other victims sustained serious injuries and they were transported by ambulances to private and provincial hospitals for further treatment.The road remained partially closed for about two hours while emergency crews were busy and the Metro polices’ specialist Accident Investigation Unit conducted their investigation.
The collision caused a severe backlog on the N1 affecting motorists travelling towards Roodepoort as only one lane of the highway was open for traffic to pass. The backlog stretched back past the Malibongwe off ramp and this resulted in another collision, one male patient was transported by ambulance to hospital, he had sustained a fracture to his femur.
Motorists are advised to slow down to a safe travelling speed and approach collision scenes with caution. Remember that rescuers are attending to the injured and have little in the form of protection should a stray vehicle crash into the scene.
The majority of these incidents were attended to by paramedics from the private and provincial ambulance services, fire department and the Metro police.
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