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Sowetan reports that drunken driving and speeding are suspected in the fatal crash involving a rubbish truck in which two municipal employees died and four others were injured when the vehicle overturned on Saturday.
The four sustained injuries when the back part of the heavyduty vehicle fell on them. The crash happened around 3pm on Soutpansberg Road in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The road had to be closed for three hours.
Two people died and two others were found trapped under the truck. One of them had his leg severed by the truck's heavy steel bin after paramedics could not move him, said ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak on Sunday. "A large towing vehicle was called to the scene to partially lift the truck to free him. Once freed paramedics found that he had sustained severe traumatic injuries. "He was placed on life support and airlifted to hospital. Rescue workers struggled for an hour to free him," Vermaak said confirming that two people died. Two more were found near the truck with moderate injuries and were taken to Tembisa Hospital.
Ekurhuleni metro police spokesman Wilfred Kgasago said the driver lost control of the vehicle. He said the cause of the accident was being investigated.
However, witnesses said alcohol and speeding could have been the cause of the accident. Maria Jones, who lives at Oppimeer complex near the crash site, said they saw lots of beer bottles at the scene. "They were not carrying a big load of rubbish because those beer bottles looked like they had just been used. It was a horrific scene. One of them lay flat and dead under that truck. I was very upset," Jones said.
Elizabeth Moore said: "It was so terrible. I've never seen anything like that before. Had those guys not been drinking and adhered to the rules of the road, this wouldn't have happened. I feel sorry for their families."
Another resident, Emilly Tshabalala, said that stretch of road was known for accidents and reckless driving despite having a 60km/h speed limit.
Sergeant Barbara Ferreira, sector manager attached to Norkempark police station, said they did not suspect drinking and driving but speeding. "Judging by the impact, we think the accident could have been caused by speeding. Our guys are investigating," Ferreira said.
This report by Lindile Sifile is on page 2 of Sowetan of 31 October 2016
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