Authorities investigating tragic KZN crash, death toll revised to 8
The H1 bakkie which was involved in the crash. | KZN Department of Transport
Image: KZN Department of Transport
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the police are investigating the cause of a crash in which eight people, mostly mothers, tragically lost their lives in the early hours of Sunday morning along the N2 near the Mtunzini Toll Plaza.
According to KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the collision occurred at around 6:47am and involved a tow truck and a Hyundai H-1 vehicle transporting members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC).
While Duma initially gave the death toll as nine, authorities later confirmed that one of the bodies had been mistakenly counted twice and the correct death toll was eight.
The victims were part of a group of 24 congregants travelling to Dukuduku in Mtubatuba, in northern KZN when tragedy struck.
Duma said that the tow truck struck the rear of the Hyundai H-1, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
“Those who were injured have been taken to hospitals and we wish them a speedy recovery. Equally, we express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the Church,” he said.
The National Department of Transport also expressed its condolences.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa said they were “deeply concerned and saddened by the loss of eight lives in a tragic road crash that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning on the N2 near Empangeni.”
“Preliminary reports indicate that the Hyundai H-1 was transporting members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) from their place of worship to the Dukuduku/Mtubatuba area when it was struck from behind by the truck,” they said.
The RTMC and SAPS are investigating the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, the National Department of Transport launched the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week campaign in Durban yesterday.
The campaign, which runs until May 18, has the theme “Make Walking and Cycling Safe. It aims to illuminate the critical need for awareness regarding the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.