One person dies, nine injured in weekend of carnage on roads


In a weekend of carnage on Nelson Mandela Bay’s roads, one person died and at least nine were admitted to hospital as a result of a series of accidents which left fragments of metal, glass and rubber strewn across the city’s streets.
In arguably the worst accident, five people were to taken hospital at about 1pm on Saturday after the driver lost control of a Toyota Corolla on the M4 highway.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan Rheeder said while it was unclear if the accident was related to mechanical problems, the driver had allegedly been speeding and no other vehicle had been involved.
He said the accident had happened on the Albany Road off-ramp.
The vehicle had hit the barrier wall, rolled and landed on the M4 close to the Mount Road off-ramp.
He said the occupants had been travelling from a funeral at the Forest Hill cemetery.
“All of the occupants survived the night [Saturday],” he said on Sunday.
“They all, however, remain in a very serious condition.”
A photograph of the crumpled frame of the unrecognisable Toyota next to the barrier wall with its dislodged front wheel, folded bonnet and doors and its open trunk sparked a flurry of comments on social media.
It was shared on Facebook almost 250 times and liked more than 400 times in less than a day, with at least two people claiming to have witnessed the incident.
Jessica Weldeman posted that she had been walking to her car from Merino’s Butchery – just below Settlers Highwaywhen the accident happened.
“I was packing bags into our car and when I looked up I just saw the car in the air and it rolled and landed on its roof,” she said.
“There were a lot of amazing people rushing to assist the people.
“They literally turned the car over and helped them out of the vehicle.
“Amazing to see a community come together.”
Further along the road at almost the same time, another serious accident occurred at the corner of Admiralty Way and Marine Drive in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth.
“Just after 1pm on Saturday, there was an accident involving a taxi and a bakkie,” Rheeder said.
“There were six people altogether in the vehicles, of whom four were treated on the scene and the driver of the bakkie was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
“Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but because of the seriousness of the driver’s injuries a case of reckless and negligent driving is being investigated.
“It is unclear exactly what happened as we only have the statement from the taxi driver, who alleged the bakkie just drove in front of him at the intersection.”
Rheeder was unable to say which hospitals the occupants of the other two accidents were taken to.
Also on Saturday, an unidentified woman in a Toyota Conquest was killed instantly and three other people were taken to the Motherwell Medical Centre after they crashed into a stationary minibus along the M17 in Motherwell.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said it was alleged the driver – who was alone at the time – had run out of petrol at about 8pm.
“The driver alleges that he left his vehicle in the left lane with his hazard lights on.
“He got out to buy petrol at the nearby petrol station.
“As he was walking away, he heard a loud bang behind him.
“A Toyota Conquest crashed into the back of the vehicle.”
The identity of the woman who died has not yet been established.
The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.

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