KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety, and Liaison Bheki Ntuli has lambasted the suspected drunk truck driver who was involved in the horrific multiple vehicle crash that claimed the lives of eight people at Jozini today.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the driver of an articulated truck lost control and crashed into five vehicles which included two buses, one mini-bus taxi, one bakkie, and a Toyota Condor.
Scores of injured survivors, some who were in a critical condition, were transported to the nearest hospitals for emergency care.
The truck driver has been detained by police and a specimen of blood was taken from him for alcohol testing.
Today MEC Ntuli visited the accident scene to receive a briefing from the police and examine the crash wreckage as part of his fact-finding mission into what transpired.
“I was appalled when I learned that the truck driver is suspected to have been driving under the influence of alcohol which could be the cause of this ghastly accident that resulted in eight fatalities. Alcohol has contributed immensely to bad driver behavior which leads to traffic violations, road crashes, and the increasing road death toll. The blatant disregard for the rules of the road is to blame for the deaths of many breadwinners on our roads, which is a huge cost to the economy,” said MEC Ntuli.
MEC Ntuli tasked police to fast-track the investigation into the cause of the accident so that the Criminal Justice System can deal with the culprit.
He was also alarmed by the increase of car crashes and fatalities on the road in the province since the country moved to Covid-19 Alert Level 3 of the National Lockdown.
MEC Ntuli also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those in hospital a speedy recovery.
The South African Police Service working with the Road Traffic Management Corporation will be investigating the crash to determine the possible cause and contributing factors.