Zimbabwean driver flees from accident scene as head-on collision kills 17 people and spares 1 survivor in kombi (VIDEO & PICS)

A devastating multi-vehicle crash on Van Reenen’s Pass in South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province claimed seventeen lives and left one survivor on Monday night.

The accident, involving a truck and a minibus taxi, has prompted a major investigation by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements, focusing especially on the disappearance of the truck driver, identified as 37-year-old Zimbabwean national, Mr N. Mbedezi.

The minibus taxi, affiliated with the Uncedo Taxi Association, was travelling from Qumbu in the Eastern Cape to Johannesburg, carrying eighteen people including the driver. The collision tragically resulted in the deaths of:

• 7 Adult males
• 3 Adult females
• 3 Boys
• 4 Girls

One young girl miraculously survived the crash and is recovering in hospital. KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma visited the survivor, expressing relief at her recovery and thanking healthcare workers for their swift response. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families.

The truck, owned by Pangolin Logistics, was driven by Mr Mbedezi. Initial reports of eighteen fatalities were corrected following the investigation, confirming seventeen deaths at the scene. The families of the deceased have been identified and notified by the minibus taxi owner and the Uncedo Taxi Association. Arrangements are underway for family members to travel to Ladysmith to identify their loved ones.

The accident occurred around 8:32 pm on the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass, during heavy rain and mist. According to MEC Duma, initial investigations indicate the minibus taxi lost control, veered into oncoming traffic, and collided head-on with the truck. The exact cause of the minibus losing control is still under investigation, but possibilities include:

1. Heavy rainfall
2. Excessive speed
3. Vehicle defects
4. Driver negligence

A second, unrelated accident involved a silver Renault Clio. Its occupants, thankfully uninjured, unfortunately drove over the bodies of some passengers ejected from the minibus taxi.

The investigation is focusing on several key aspects, particularly Mr Mbedezi’s disappearance. MEC Duma expressed concern: “We remain concerned about the fact that the driver of the trucking company contacted the owner of Pangolin Logistics before disappearing. We are asking ourselves too many questions. Who assisted him in disappearing from such a remote area and at night?”

A technical team, comprising representatives from the Department of Transport, Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), and the South African National Road Agency (Sanral), is collaborating with the South African Police Service (SAPS) under Major General Gonya, the Thukela District cluster commander. Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KZN police commissioner, has ensured an experienced investigator and detectives are assigned to the case.

The vehicles involved were:

• A super-link truck with two trailers (registration numbers HCP391L, FZW587L, and FZW604L) carrying two sealed bins.
• A Toyota minibus with a trailer (registration numbers KX06ZBGP and JWP564EC).

The truck was travelling southbound in the fast lane, while the minibus was travelling northbound in the fast lane at the time of the collision. Video footage supports the theory that the minibus lost control. The second phase of the investigation will focus on determining the exact cause of the minibus losing control. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of driving in challenging weather conditions and the importance of road safety. The investigation is ongoing.