SOMERSET WEST 11 December 2011, 10:00
2 people have died and various other sustained serious injuries following a collision on the N2 highway in Somerset West this morning.
ER24 control centre in Johannesburg received a call that a single bakkie had overturned on the highway near Sir Lowrys pass, and that at least 20 people were injured.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they found that a Hyundai bakkie had overturned. The vehicle was allegedly transporting a group of people on the load bed to church.
ER24 and the Western Cape Provincial Department Health: Emergency Medical Services dispatched a number of resources to the scene to assist the injured. 2 people however sustained various fatal injuries and were later declared dead at the scene.
1 child, believed to be aged 2, sustained suspected injuries to his head and chest. Due to the injuries sustained and the distance to the nearest appropriate medical facility, paramedics promptly dispatched the ER24 Discovery Medicopter to the scene. The child was treated at the scene before being transported to Tygerberg Hospital for further treatment.
Another helicopter landed at the scene to airlift an injured male to hospital. All other patients received treatment from various services for injuries ranging from suspected back and neck injuries to multiple scrapes, bruises and broken bones. The patients were then transported to various hospitals in the surrounding area in various ambulances.
Local law enforcement officials who attended the scene will be investigating the incident further.
Andre Visser, ER24