Several people, including children, have been critically injured after a bakkie carrying approximately 15 family members and friends overturned on the R617 near Bulwer in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 11 October.
The crash left multiple occupants lying on the roadway after they were reportedly thrown from the vehicle, prompting an emergency response from paramedics who were forced to treat several patients with life-threatening injuries.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. Paramedics describe devastating scene
Midlands EMS Howick crews were dispatched to the scene following reports of the serious accident.
Midlands EMS spokesperson Roland Robertson described the scene as distressing, saying several occupants had been ejected from the bakkie.
“When paramedics arrived, they were confronted with a devastating scene. Multiple occupants had been ejected from the vehicle and were lying on the roadway, with several patients in a critical condition requiring immediate life-saving intervention,” Robertson said.
The incident involved both adults and children, adding to the urgency of the rescue operation.
Robertson said emergency personnel had to assess and stabilise multiple casualties before transporting the injured to various hospitals for further medical treatment.
“This was a complex and challenging operation, with multiple casualties requiring simultaneous care. Our priority was to ensure every patient received the emergency treatment needed as quickly as possible,” he said.
The latest information did not specify the total number of people injured or provide an updated breakdown of their conditions.
Investigation into the crash continues
The exact circumstances that led to the bakkie overturning have not yet been established.
Robertson said the incident served as a reminder of the devastating consequences road accidents can have on families, particularly when several people are involved in a single collision.
Authorities have yet to confirm what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, and no further details about the investigation were immediately available.
Another deadly week on KZN roads
The crash comes amid renewed concerns about road safety in KwaZulu-Natal following another devastating collision last week.
Eleven people were killed and nine others seriously injured in a collision involving a taxi and a truck on the N2 near Mtubatuba.
The taxi was reportedly transporting Maskandi music fans returning from a festival in Melmoth when the collision occurred. The vehicle caught fire after the crash, leaving nine victims burnt beyond recognition.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli expressed condolences to the families affected by that tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also thanked emergency personnel and others who assisted at the scene, while urging motorists to exercise caution on the province’s roads.
Ntuli highlighted the dangers of driver fatigue, particularly during early-morning journeys, and called for road safety regulations to be enforced rigorously.
With several people now critically injured in the latest Bulwer crash, the incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by motorists and passengers travelling on the province’s roads.
