Ten people, i.e. eight adults and two children died at the scene of a horrific head on collision involving a Toyota Yaris and a Honda Ballade on the N4 Bakwena Platinum Highway near the Helen Joseph turnoff into Rustenburg on Friday night. A family of six from Witbank, parents and four children died on impact after their Honda Ballade vehicle allegedly lost control and collided head on with the Toyota Yaris with five passengers at around 9h45pm.
The Honda Ballade was torn into two by the impact of the accident. Its front part, i.e. the engine, gearbox right up to the back seat were found about 10 meters from the point of impact. The back part was stopped by the side road barrier on the left. Paramedics rushed the only survivor from the Toyota Yaris, a woman in her late 30’s to Job Shimankane Tabane after she was freed from the wreckage with the Jaws of Life.
The five occupants who were in the vehicle were travelling from Moedwil near Swartruggens towards Rustenburg. Both lanes of the highway were closed for over three hours as rescue team, police and traffic officials recovered the smashed bodies from the horrific scene and cleared the debris from the road.
The family that the occupants of the Honda Ballade were on route to visit in Cashane came to the scene but were too traumatised to provide further details about their ages etc. Rustenburg police are investigating cases of culpable homicide. They hoped that some of the belongings of the occupants who were in the Toyota Yaris would assist them determine their identities and to trace their next of kin. North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa conveyed his condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in the accidents and wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery.
MEC Yawa further appealed to drivers to rest whenever they are travelling long distances as suspicion is that fatigue caused the accident.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
