[Pinetown, KZN 21 November 2012 19:00]
Paramedics reported a spate of accidents that happened during and after the short but intensive storm in the area of Pinetown this evening. Although most of the collisions were fortunately not of a nature to leave patients with severe injuries, one head on collision on Shepstone road left a man with a partially amputated foot.
The head on collision took place between a Hyundai 1-ton bakkie and another light motor vehicle, where the front of both vehicles were badly crushed as a result of the impact. The driver and only occupant of the bakkie was found still trapped in his seat and it appeared that one of the foot pedals had gone right through his ankle. With the assistance of the local fire department, the patient was removed from the wreckage; and while paramedics were treating the man for his injuries in his seat, the Jaws of Life were being used to cut the patient free.
After approximately 30 minutes of working in the pouring rain, the patient was in the back of the ambulance en route to Albert Luthuli hospital where he would receive further care of the severely injured foot, chest injuries, broken leg and other various injuries he had sustained in the crash.
At this time it is not clear as to how many people had been traveling in the other vehicle at the time of the collision, and as to the extent of the injuries that these occupants had sustained, as the patients were removed as quickly as possible to hospital due to the unfavorable weather conditions that have plagued paramedics and rescuers this evening.
