[Nelspruit 05 November 2011 14:30]
A man has been killed while an 18 year old mother is in a critical condition, and her son and the driver of a truck have been left with minor injuries after a head on collision between a bakkie and a truck occurred this afternoon on the R40 in the direction of Hazey View.
The incident happened on a blind rise, where one of the vehicles may have not been in their correct lane leading to the forceful impact of the head on collision. ER24 Paramedics from the Nelspruit base responded to the incident and commented that there was almost nothing left of the front of the double cab bakkie. The driver, a 40 year old man, did not survive the injuries that he had sustained in the accident, and he was declared dead at the scene. The 18 year old mother needed immediate Advanced Life Support treatment, while her baby, an 18 month old little boy, was strapped firmly into his car seat. The baby was thoroughly assessed for injuries but luckily had only sustained minor cuts and bruises. He and his mother were taken by ambulance to Mediclinic Nelspruit for further care.
The truck caught alight a while after the accident, and some of the parts even exploded due to the heat. Fortunately the driver, and only occupant of the truck, had already removed himself from the damaged vehicle and he too was treated for minor injuries before being taken to Rob Fereirra Hospital for treatment.
The cause of the head on collision will form part of the police investigation.
Vanessa Jackson, ER24