Six people were killed in a road accident just outside Mafikeng in the North West last night. The accident occurred on the R503 road between Mafikeng and Lichtenburg. All the occupants of the two vehicles, which collided head-on, died on the scene.
North West Public Safety MEC Howard Yawa who was at the scene of the accident described it as ‘the worst’ and appealed to motorists to obey traffic rules.
Although it is not clear how exactly the accident happened, the provincial Public Safety Department said one of the two vehicles burst into flames following the collision. The victims were burnt beyond recognition.
Emergency workers used jaws of life to remove the trapped bodies from the wreckage.
Motorists urged to avoid speeding
The accident brought traffic on the busy road to a temporary standstill. The road was closed for about two hours to allow emergency services and police to clear the wreckage. Yawa has cautioned motorists to avoid speeding and appealed to them to drive carefully.
“This accident is the worst because today we have just been embarking on the campaign to check on the road worthiness of the busses in the North West. We have heard about this incidents happening in other provinces. We never knew that it will just so soon be happening in the North West province,” says Yawa.
The victims identities are expected to be released as soon as their next of kin have been informed.
[Story from SABCnews.co.za]