Swartkoppies Horror Crash Kills 5
Five people have died in a horrific accident involving a petrol tanker near Alberton on Swartkoppies road. The crash was reported on Wednesday evening just before 22:30 by an off-duty firefighter. Upon arrival at the scene, emergency crews found that a car and a petrol tanker had been involved in a collision. The petrol tanker was on its side and both vehicles were on fire.
The accident took place at the intersection of Swartkoppies and Kliprivier roads, next to Mall of the South in Johannesburg. Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson William Ntladi said: “The scene has been handed over to the law enforcement unit for the removal of the bodies to an appropriate facility and to conduct an investigation as to what actually caused the crash.”
Several firefighters from the City of Ekurhuleni were assisted by crews from the City of Johannesburg, and specialized foam tanker and water tanker fire engines were used to contain and eventually extinguish the blaze, he said.
According to Ntladi, the five victims had been burnt beyond recognition. They appeared to be family members, he added. The truck driver and his assistant both sustained critical injuries in the crash and were transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
“The cause of the crash is undetermined and still under investigation by law enforcement officials,” added Ntladi.